Bugatti Submerged for 70 years goes to auction in France - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Dee8go · #16 01-15-2010, 04:25 PM

I watched a show on National Geographic last night on which they completely restored a 1967 Amphicar. I would much rather put my money into restoring that Bugatti tha a '67 Amphicar!

t walgamuth · #17 01-15-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

How about restoring using as many parts as you can, but only make them fully functional and leave them as is. All the new metal and parts can gleam while the original retains it patina, only cleaning and preserving. It would make an interesting contrast.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case.

t walgamuth · #18 01-15-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

That's one approach, but I bet it's still more valuable as-is.

I highly doubt it. A car is always worth more if you can drive it. You'd be surprised how many people who own million plus dollar ferraris and bugattis race them.

Take a 63 Ferrari GTO....worth 30 million....race and wreck it you can rebuild from scratch for maybe 500,000. So a wrecked GTO is still worth 29,500,000 more or less.

Fulcrum525 · #19 01-15-2010, 04:45 PM

That's come pretty expensive rust right there....

#20 01-15-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I highly doubt it. A car is always worth more if you can drive it. You'd be surprised how many people who own million plus dollar ferraris and bugattis race them.

Take a 63 Ferrari GTO....worth 30 million....race and wreck it you can rebuild from scratch for maybe 500,000. So a wrecked GTO is still worth 29,500,000 more or less.

Maybe, we'll see what ends up happening to it.

t walgamuth · #21 01-15-2010, 05:19 PM

It's a deal. I'll bet you a beer, but if you win you will have to come to Lafayette to collect!

#22 01-15-2010, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

It's a deal. I'll bet you a beer, but if you win you will have to come to Lafayette to collect!

Cool

Chas H · #23 01-15-2010, 05:59 PM

Most likely the car will be re-constructed. There's no compelling provenance to keep it a derelict. It is a bonified Bugatti so there is no chance of allegations of fraud or conterfeiting. And since these models are quite simple and well documented, re-constructing the car will cost less, perhaps considerably less, than it's finished value.

cmac2012 · #24 01-16-2010, 04:03 AM

Sounds good to me. Way too valuable to maintain it as some sort of Davey Jones derelict. And its appeal as sculpture would probably not be long lived. Ineresting picture though.

t walgamuth · #25 01-18-2010, 07:37 PM

I just read the blurb at the top....estimate top 90K euro. Thats what about 120K dollars? I bet it will bring twice that much or more.

This is a case where i think the stories about it will add value!

whunter · #26 01-18-2010, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I just read the blurb at the top....estimate top 90K euro. Thats what about 120K dollars? I bet it will bring twice that much or more.

This is a case where i think the stories about it will add value!

I was looking at it with a customer who may buy it.

Cost roughly $120,000.00 USD.

Value after restoration $1.2 - $1.5 million USD.

Have a great day.

strelnik · #27 01-18-2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4x4_Welder

The basic story was that one of the past owners owed some money, and parked it in front of the courthouse as payment. The town didn't want the car, which was pretty well used up at that time, so they destroyed it by sinking it in the lake.
Inspiration for the guy in Texas, maybe?

At any rate, the car most likely does not actually have it's original body. That was supposedly severely damaged in a racing incident. It is being auctioned without reserve though-

The French version of the story is one of the most artfully written pieces I have read in a while. The English version is not a word for word translation and they really tried to make it romantic and well, tantalizing, perhaps to get a French buyer?

If you didn't know this, in the past there has been a lot of French and Italian cooperation on cars, most of it good, as in the Traction Avant and some of the Ferraris, and some of it bad, as in the Citroen Maserati SM.

I would be tempted to restore it to the original, but by original means. One of the drawbacks of modern restoration is use of technology that actually makes the car different when restored.

I remember seeing new cars in the 1950s and they never looked as good as when restored.

You see this if you go to the Mercedes museum in Untertuerkheim and look at Konrad Adenauer's 300d. They never repainted it, they left it as he did. So it's got a nice paint job and shine, for 1950s paint.

I'd get pics of this car and see if it couldn't be restored the same way, the traditional way.

compu_85 · #28 01-18-2010, 09:34 PM

I think it belongs in a museum as it sits right now.

-Jason

t walgamuth · #29 01-19-2010, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

The French version of the story is one of the most artfully written pieces I have read in a while. The English version is not a word for word translation and they really tried to make it romantic and well, tantalizing, perhaps to get a French buyer?

If you didn't know this, in the past there has been a lot of French and Italian cooperation on cars, most of it good, as in the Traction Avant and some of the Ferraris, and some of it bad, as in the Citroen Maserati SM.

I would be tempted to restore it to the original, but by original means. One of the drawbacks of modern restoration is use of technology that actually makes the car different when restored.

I remember seeing new cars in the 1950s and they never looked as good as when restored.

You see this if you go to the Mercedes museum in Untertuerkheim and look at Konrad Adenauer's 300d. They never repainted it, they left it as he did. So it's got a nice paint job and shine, for 1950s paint.

I'd get pics of this car and see if it couldn't be restored the same way, the traditional way.

This is being done more in recent years. This car may have some racing history so if that is the case and it is significant it might be restored to as raced condition whatever that might be.

It says its not the original body and it looks sleek like one might that was built more for speed.

I think its fascinating!

t walgamuth · #30 02-05-2010, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I just read the blurb at the top....estimate top 90K euro. Thats what about 120K dollars? I bet it will bring twice that much or more.

This is a case where i think the stories about it will add value!

It sold 1.23.10 for 260,500 euro, about 325K......

I searched for an interview with the buyer but could not find anything. I am very interested in what happens to it....and there may be a beer in it for me!

View Poll Results: What would you do with this wreck?
Keep it as is. Giant work of art or conversation piece	12	52.17%
Restore using whatever items can be salvaged	11	47.83%
Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll