Book Recommendation on Bugatti Royale

[DNC]

Hi friends, I do not seem to be getting anywhere in my search on the history of the Bugatti Royale. I posted a message on here within the past twelve months with little to no response. I have written the Bugatti Club with no response. I know very few of these cars were made (perhaps 6?) but I would think they are important enough that someone who have written something of significance about them. Should I post this to another forum? Is there a museum that comes to mind that might be of help? Any guidance would be very much appreciated.

[trimacar]

Re: Book Reccomendation For Bugatti Royale

I don't believe that there's been a book written exclusively about the Royale cars. With only 6 built, there are interesting stories about ownership, but probably not enough for a full blown book. There are a couple of museums that may be able to give you further information, see below.

The Coupe Napoleon and the Limousine Park-Ward both reside in the ex-Schlumpf collection, the Musee National de l'Automobile de Mulhouse, in France. The Limousine Park-Ward was acquired by the Schlumpfs as part of a collection of cars bought from John Shakespeare (of the United States) in 1963. There was a much publicity about this collection being loaded on a train for the first part of their journey to France.

The Cabriolet Weinberger is in the Henry Ford (museum) in Michigan. It was rescued from a junk yard in New York in 1946.

The Coupe de ville Binder is owned by Volkswagen. It once resided in the Harrah Collection in Reno, and was sold to Major General William Lyon when Holiday Inn liquidated the majority of the collection in 1986.

The Kellner car is privately owned, whereabouts unknown.

The Berline de Voyage was made somewhat famous when owned by Tom Monaghan of pizza fame, who bought it from a then heavy-duty collector in Houston, Jerry Moore. This car is now owned by the Blackhawk Collection in Danville, California. As a side note, I rode in this car (about 100 feet) when it was shown by Monaghan at a White Post Celebrates, a 3 year event hosted by the late Billy Thompson in White Post, Virginia. I was told by the fellow handling the car that every time it went on display, a $10,000 insurance surcharge was paid due to value of vehicle, hearsay but interesting.

[sambarn]

I love the Royales...I saw the Coupe DeVille Binder in Reno... my Dad and I talking elephant mascots all the way from Alabama...

We have a couple of older Bugatti histories but they are probably out of print and pricey. Going old school I might recommend visiting the Detroit Public Library, I understand that their automobile reference section is unparalleled. On my way there I would contact the AACA Library and research center. I don't know what they have but Chris Ritter should be able to help you rapidly(If you're a member of AACA this process is virtually free). And finally..

Recovered from the information-less inter-google:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugatti_Royale

http://www.bugatti.com/en/tradition/bugatti-models/t41-royale.html

And books on the inter-google

http://www.alibris.com/Bugatti-Royale-Paul-Kestler/book/10154978

http://bugattipage.com/book15.htm

https://openlibrary.org/books/OL11610606M/Anatomy_of_a_Bugatti_Royale

All three of these books are available but the first is for sale at $330. So is this just for curiosity's sake but why the Royale interest? I've always fantasized about the post-lottery vacation where I visit all the Royales (even the Kellner car)!

[trimacar]

There's also a very entertaining fiction novel regarding Royales, "The Seventh Royale", and in it the main character goes on a "Royale tour" to visit all the cars.....and of course is on the trail of the seventh car, in case the title isn't obvious enough!!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Seventh-Royale-Donald-Stanwood/dp/0689114494

[john2dameron]

There are 23 pages on the Bugatti Royale in Automobile Quarterly issue 10-3 and another 16 pages in Volume 24-4 plus pages in other issues of AQ.

Edited January 26, 2014 by john2dameron (see edit history)

[DNC]

I love the Royales...I saw the Coupe DeVille Binder in Reno... my Dad and I talking elephant mascots all the way from Alabama...

We have a couple of older Bugatti histories but they are probably out of print and pricey. Going old school I might recommend visiting the Detroit Public Library, I understand that their automobile reference section is unparalleled. On my way there I would contact the AACA Library and research center. I don't know what they have but Chris Ritter should be able to help you rapidly(If you're a member of AACA this process is virtually free). And finally..

Recovered from the information-less inter-google:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugatti_Royale

http://www.bugatti.com/en/tradition/bugatti-models/t41-royale.html

And books on the inter-google

http://www.alibris.com/Bugatti-Royale-Paul-Kestler/book/10154978

http://bugattipage.com/book15.htm

https://openlibrary.org/books/OL11610606M/Anatomy_of_a_Bugatti_Royale

All three of these books are available but the first is for sale at $330. So is this just for curiosity's sake but why the Royale interest? I've always fantasized about the post-lottery vacation where I visit all the Royales (even the Kellner car)!

Sambarn, Thank you for responding to my post. Yes, I am a member of AACA. I have always been interested in the Bugatti Type 41 since childhood yet found information almost nonexistent. This past Christmas I received as a gift the Bauer 1:18 model. It has reignited my interest in these cars and since someone thought enough of me to give me one of these handsome models the least I can do is to know more than just the surface details concerning their history. I have always feared great cars of low production become garage jewelry and their history can be forgotten by people who own them just for show and do little to preserve or know their history. But I guess we can say that about all cars, can't we?

Again, thank you for your response.

[DNC]

John, That is the perfect response. Thank you.

[nzcarnerd]

All six cars were brought together - probably for the first and last time - in 1985 at Pebble Beach - http://www.supercars.net/cars/2757.html - and no doubt there are other references to this event on the net.

Hugh Conway's history of Bugatti is regarded as one of the best. It is a long time since I read it but I am sure there must be quite a bit about the Royale in it. http://www.bugattibuilder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=478

Edited January 26, 2014 by nzcarnerd (see edit history)

[1937hd45]

I've been lucky to see all four that were here in the USA,one in the Ford Collection, two at Harrah's and the one in the Briggs Cunningham Collection. There is a seventh if you count the one built in England around a railcar engine about 25 years ago. Great cars, but I'd rather have a Type 37A. Bob

[john2dameron]

NZcarnerd, I had forgot what year the Royales were at Pebble Beach. One of the car magazines did a feature story on the gathering and had a centerfold photo of all six cars together. Now that you have mentioned the year I think I will dig the magazine out and read the article again.

[Ivan Saxton]

You may find that the one that has been built around a railcar engine was initially the work of Schlumpf collection. After they lost their grip on everything it may well have been continued by others.. One of the early soft-cover books on the hobby showed the one that went to Briggs Cunningham as it had received light renovation by a GM executive called Charles Chayne, after he bought it from a Midwest junkyard for a derisory price. People either raved over the cars or disliked them. As a large functional item of automotive sculpture they were superb. For a monster, possibly Frank Gilbreth's 66hp Pierce Arrow may have been no less well built, and better for its purpose. When I visited Harrahs in Sept 1980, Jim Edwards was kind enough to take me into the restoration shop, where work was in progress on a significant engine problem on one of the Type 41s, as well as the supercharged 1929 LeMans Stutz racer, and the FRP. I still have photos of the other two, but cannot find those I took of the Bugatti. The Automobile Quarterly article on the bulk sale of John Shakespear's Bugattis indicates there may have been an engine issue with that one too.

[Restorer32]

Any idea which Royale was shown at Hershey in about 1968? I remember it and a dual rear wheel 1920's car (Pierce?) that originally belonged to Fatty Arbuckle.

[West Peterson]

NZcarnerd, I had forgot what year the Royales were at Pebble Beach. One of the car magazines did a feature story on the gathering and had a centerfold photo of all six cars together. Now that you have mentioned the year I think I will dig the magazine out and read the article again.

That was my magazine. December 1985 issue of Car Collector.

[West Peterson]

Besides for the Esders Roadster that was built for the Schlumpf brothers (completed and in the Alsace museum), there was also a replica of one of the town cars built. I'm not sure who or where, or how accurate, but I think it was pretty close.

[Guest cben09]

The Arbuckle Pierce Arrow was one of 3 ,,,,Dual valve 66 Hp,,

the other 2,,Factory test car and one dilevered to Vanderbilt at Newport

This from memory,,Vanderbilt car had very early front wheel brakes

and a Farnam Nelson body,,Cheers,,Ben

[DavidMc]

The late Tom Wheatcroft commissioned Ashton Keynes Vintage Restorations to build an exact replica of Bugatti's personal Royale, the Coupe Napoleon (chassis number 41.110), for his Donington Grand Prix Collection in England. It has since been sold and left the collection. There was a comprehensive article on the car in one of the English Classic car magazines some years ago.

[DNC]

In case any of you are interested, the Bugatti Trust has recommended these books:

Bugatti Royale by Paul Kestler ISBN 2-84078-004-6

Bugatti the Man and the Marque by Jonathan Wood (covers segments) ISBN 1-85-223-364-8

The Magnum by H G Conway (covers segments) ISBN 0-85429-800-2

Bugatti Le Pur Sang des Automobiles by H G Conway (covers segments)

To anyone that already owns them I would like to know your opinion.

[Dave Henderson]

For insight into Ettore Bugatti and other personalities in the Bugatti family there is a book entitled The Amazing Bugattis, with its parts by multiple authors; Malcom Haslan, Philippe Gardner, Mary Harvey, and Hugh Conway.

Published by The Design Council, London, 1979. a U.S. edition was published by barrons Educational Series, also 1979. It includes an overview of cars and other objets de' art sssociated with the family. It was published to coincide with the first full-scale exhibition devoted to the Bugattis in Great Britain.

ISBN 0-8120-2181-9