Occasional paper 2: Carrosserie of the mystery Bugatti type 23.

In Occasional paper 1 I posted this image.

Handwritten on the photo are the words “Carroseria Profile”. I had assumed that this was the name of the coach builder. I then wondered whether there were any Bugatti type 13/23 with similar bodies. And came up with the following.

This Bugatti type 23 #2519

Bugatti type 23 #2519 Maron-Pot et Cie

Described by Bonhams as a “…late example, Brescia chassis number ‘2519’ has the 1,496cc engine and according to factory records was delivered in May 1925 to Paris where it was bodied by the little-known coachbuilder L Maron, Pot et Cie of Levallois-Perret. The staggered two-seater torpedo body was commissioned by the Bugatti’s first owner Jean Haimovici, (Reference Bugantics, Vol 30, Number 1), a Romanian living in Paris who took the car with him when he moved to Czechoslovakia. Documentation on file lists various owners in Czechoslovakia and the car also comes with Czech registration documents dating back to 1947. The last of these owners is one William Kevin Stewart, from 4th May 1959, who brought the car to the UK where it was registered by Automo Ltd of London NW6 in August 1959. Miraculously, the Bugatti had survived in remarkably original condition; indeed, it is one of only a handful (The Brescia Bugatti book by Bob King would indicate only five Brescia’s are complete with these original parts) retaining its original body, bonnet, engine, gearbox and axles.”(1)

#2519

Arguably some similarities with the mystery photo though not it would appear the same car. A period advertisement of Maron-Pot et Cie carrosserie also shows a Bugatti with clear similarities.

Below is another example of the coach work of Maron-Pot et Cie on a Bugatti type 13 although a different body style.

Bugatti type 13 #2628 Maron-Pot et Cie

However, aside from the obscure carrosserie Maron-Pot et Cie I found one other period image of a Bugatti type 23 with a similar body style and flared wings but this time bodied by Lavocat et Marsaud. Different again but with similarities in the treatment of the wings and the under-tray.

Bugatti type 23 Lavocat et Marsaud.

All of above suggests that the carrosserie of the mystery Bugatti is the company Profilee and not Maron-Pot et Cie or Lavocat et Marsaud. I do not have much information on Carrosserie Profilee but believe that they did produce small series and “one-off” bodies in the twenties and thirties. Evidence of their work, including a record breaking attempt by Peugeot as follows:

http://gallica.bnf.fr

http://gallica.bnf.fr

(1). https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21906/lot/318/

Occasional Paper 1: Bugatti type 23 mystery image

The types 13/22/23 differ, among other things, by virtue of wheelbase length. The image of a period photo below is, I believe a type 23 judging by the wheelbase. However I’m not certain.

Bugatti type 23 mystery photo

The photo has hand written text in what matches with Spanish. The text appears to relate to details of the car including a price. The details include information to the effect that the car is a four cylinder Bugatti, possibly delivered in June 1925, one carburetor, one magneto, four brakes and body by “Carroseria Profile”.

The image is sharp depicting a car that is used, judging by the tyres, a third central rear seat, no driver’s side door, good paintwork and interesting steeply raked fenders.

So perhaps a car with a Spanish or South American history. I wonder if the car still exists?