1931 Bugatti T51 Dubos Coupe

This car started life as a factory Grand Prix racer, driven by Chiron in 1931, and by Dreyfus in 1931 and 1932. Then it was sold to Parisian Andre Bith, who converted it for road use by simply adding fenders and proper lighting. He drove it that way until 1937, when he took it to Louis Dubos to have this fabulous coupe bodywork constructed. When finished, it won the prestigious French concours, the Bagatelle. He eventually sold it, and the body and chassis were separated, the body finding its way onto a replica chassis, and the chassis finding its way back onto the racing circuits. Eventually American cosmetics tycoon and classic car aficionado J.B. Nethercutt purchased the chassis and restored it to its Grand Prix racecar status. Some years later, the body was acquired, and now, with the help of many photographs provided by Mr. Bith, the body has been faithfully restored and returned to its chassis. Mr. Nethercutt hopes to reunite the car with Mr. Bith at next year’s Bagatelle.