A Bugatti Type 52 Childs Car

Lot details

The Bugatti Type 52 "Baby" was produced between 1927 and 1936 and today it's simultaneously the cheapest and most expensive of it's kind. How? Well for starters, it's a little hard to fit behind the wheel of a Type 52 if you happen to be over the age of 10. The Type 52 is a half-scale childrens car and it's both the cheapest real Bugatti you can buy while also being the most expensive childrens car you can buy.
The pint-sized Bugatti was originally designed by Ettore Bugatti as a plaything for his five-year-old son, Roland. The car was exhibited at the Milan Auto Salon in 1927 and apparently caused enough of a stir among wealthy parents to put the car into 'production.'
The car is closely modelled after the magnificent Bugatti Type 35 racer and is a very accurate scale model. The Type 52 was lengthened, however, so that kids could fit inside. The 52 is strictly a single seater.
These cars were surprisingly popular in the 1920's and 30's among celebrities and tycoons for their children. There were even some semi-competitive race leagues where kids would race each other as a sort of side show during races like Monte Carlo.
In the 1970s, legendary Bugatti restorer and collector William Harrah created a limited run of toolroom replicas and we believe this to be one of his examples. This 'baby' Bugatti is ripe for restoration appearing majorly complete less its electric motor. The car could be left in its 'barn find' state or restored back to its former glory. The car features the chassis number BG 3040194 and was recently brought to the UK after a long spell on display in Cyprus.