1939 Bugatti Type 57C Cabriolet by VanVooren

1939 Bugatti Type 57C Cabriolet by VanVooren.

Featured is a unique Vanvooren bodied Type 57 C. It was ordered by the French government as a special wedding gift for the later Shah of Persia, Prince Reza Pahlavia. It represents the finest France had to offer for one of the greatest car enthusiasts of the day. Vanvooren designed a very elegant body, inspired by Figoni et Falaschi's finest work. One of the body's most ingenious features is the front windshield which can be lowered into the cowl and moved under the dashboard.

Twenty years after it was constructed, the Bugatti left the Shah's collection for a sum of just $275 US. After its arrival in North America it suffered from a careless owner and was fitted with a V8 engine. A careful restoration by Rod Jolley of Lymington, Great Britain with the help of Louis Giron, a former Bugatti employee, returned the car to its original shape. Currently owned by the Petersen Museum, this unique royal vehicle is seen here at the 2004 Meadowbrook Hall Concours d'Elegance.

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