1930 Bugatti Type 40A Roadster

This 1930 Bugatti Type 40A is one of approximately 40 rumble-seat roadsters produced during a single model year and was purchased new by an owner in Paris. In 1937 it was sold to Parisian dealer Dominique Lamberjack, and by the 1950s it had been relocated to California, where it was acquired by collector Rudi van Daalen Wetters. The car remained with his family for several decades, during which a refurbishment was carried out in the mid-2000s at NostalgiCar in Korschenbroich, Germany. Work involved repainting the car in two-tone gray, retrimming the interior in color-keyed leather, and overhauling the cable-operated brakes. Following the seller’s purchase in 2016, the 1.6-liter inline-four was rebuilt, an alternator was added, and the exhaust system was replaced along with the clutch assembly for the four-speed manual transmission. Additional equipment includes a black soft top, a wood dashboard fascia, and 17” knock-off wire wheels. This Type 40A is now offered in New York with refurbishment documentation, two car covers, and a clean Montana title in the name of the seller’s LLC. The Type 40 debuted in 1926 and was available in multiple configurations through various coachbuilders. The 40A roadster was offered only in 1930 and featured a design penned by Jean Bugatti, son of the company founder. Bodywork for this model was produced in-house at the Molsheim factory in Alsace. The body was removed from the frame during the aforementioned refurbishment, and wood panels were replaced and other repairs were made before the car was repainted in two-tone gray. Exterior details include a black soft top, a louvered hood, a folding windscreen, and dual cowl vents. A door on the left quarter panel provides access to the rumble seat footwell. A Lamberjack Automobiles plaque is mounted on the right side of the cowl, and other badges are attached to the front crossbar. Paint chips, cracks, and blemishes around the car are shown up close in the gallery along with wear on the running board coverings. Color-keyed 17” knock-off wire wheels are retained with two-eared spinners and are mounted with 475/500 Coker Classic tires. A matching spare is carried on the back of the car. The suspension features a front beam axle with longitudinal semi-elliptical leaf springs, a live rear axle with inverted quarter-elliptical leaf springs, and friction dampers all around. Braking is handled by cable-operated drum brakes at all four corners. The right-hand-drive cabin features a bench seat trimmed in gray leather with color-coordinated door panels, each of which features decorative stitching, dual pocket flaps, and polished levers. Additional appointments include a wood dashboard fascia, a floor shifter, and black carpets. RJS latch-and-link harnesses show a December 2019 expiration date. The four-spoke steering wheel has a wood rim, and a central bezel houses a Jaeger 160-km/h speedometer and 7k-rpm tachometer surrounded by a mixed set of supplementary gauges for fuel level, amperage, oil pressure, and coolant temperature. The five-digit odometer shows 42k kilometers (~26k miles), approximately 1,500 of which have been added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown. The rumble seat is trimmed to match the cabin. The 1.6-liter inline-four features five main bearings as well as an overhead camshaft operating two intake valves and one exhaust valve for each cylinder. Induction is through a single Solex carburetor, and tubes built into the bottom of the crankcase channel air to cool the oil, which is pressure-fed. A rebuild in 2017 at High Mountain Classics in Greeley, Colorado, involved repairing a crack in the engine block and replacing the pistons. The engine was designed to use dual spark plugs, although it is currently set up for single-plug ignition. The radiator is cooled by an electric puller fan, and a coolant overflow tank was added under current ownership. The exhaust system was replaced in 2022. The engine number is shown above, and other production marks are shown in the gallery. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a centrally mounted four-speed non-synchromesh manual transmission. An alternator has been retrofitted and is driven by a concentric pulley mounted to the driveshaft. The clutch assembly was replaced in 2022 at Sargent Metal Works of Bradford, Vermont. German-language handwritten notes and illustrations created during the refurbishment are presented in the gallery and will accompany the car along with other service records, literature, and two car covers.