Pictured above is the Marchioness Cholmondeley in her Bugatti Type 57 saloon built by the French carrosserie Figoni & Falaschi and delivered early in 1939.
Bugatti's
Type 57 , produced 1934-1940, was the original Bugatti firm's last true production model.
The factory built production bodies for "Galibier" 4-door sedans, but buyers could purchase a chassis for a cochbuilding firm to body. One of the most interesting of the latter is today's subject, a 1939 Bugatti Type 57 delivered to Lady Sybil, wife of George Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley (Wikipedia entry
here). A Bugatti Review post titled "The Cholmondeley Bugattis" is
here
By the way, Cholmondeley is pronounced CHUM-ly.
I have no source information for the images below.
Gallery
The final two Cholmondeley Bugattis. Lady Sybil's car is at the left (chassis 57739). At the right is George's 1938 Type 57 Atalante coupé (chassis 57698).
Front quarter view. As was usual for custom-bodied cars, the front of the car from the cowling forward was factory-made. That said, the bumper is not stock, whereas the windshield apparently is.
The after part of the body is via Figoni & Falaschi. Even the doors are hinged differently from production Galibiers.
Side view photographed post- World War 2. A sensuous, very French, aerodynamically-inspired design.
A photo of similar vintage. This proves that the car survived the war. Does it still exist? Assuming it wasn't destroyed by accident, it might still be found. Perhaps it has resided in a private collection. My internet search turned up no indication of it being auctioned or otherwise publicly advertised for sale. Nor did I notice any photos of it taken in automobile museums.
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