Introduced in 1934, the Type 57 is widely regarded as a masterpiece by the hand of Jean Bugatti. Like all Bugattis that preceded it, the Type 57 handled with finesse and possessed a delicate feel characteristic of these magnificent automobiles. Graceful, exquisitely made and incredibly exclusive, the Type 57 was instantly recognizable as a conveyance of the highest quality and performance.
To further enhance performance, Bugatti introduced a supercharged version in 1937: the Type 57C, the “C” standing for compresseur. Equipped with a Roots-type blower, magneto ignition, four-wheel hydraulic brakes, additional instrumentation and other subtle upgrades, the 160-horsepower Type 57C was among the finest high-performance automobiles built prior to World War II, boasting a top speed well in excess of 100 mph, with commensurate roadholding and braking.
In typical Bugatti practice, the Type 57 was sold either as a bare chassis, ready for outside coachwork, or supplied with one of five attractive cataloged body styles: Ventoux, Galibier, Stelvio, Atalante and Aravis. Of these, the Aravis, a 2/3-seat “special cabriolet” named after a famous mountain pass in the French Alps, is arguably the most beautiful of these Type 57 body styles and certainly the most exclusive.
The Gangloff-bodied Aravis presented here, chassis 57768, is one of the rare supercharged examples. Given its sensational history and award-winning restoration, it is perhaps the finest surviving example of this exclusive breed.
Between 2002 and 2005, every aspect of the Bugatti was restored to the highest standards, including a complete engine rebuild overseen by Leydon Restorations of Pennsylvania. This process included sourcing a proper reproduction supercharger and intake manifold from English Bugatti specialist Brineton Engineering, thereby returning 57768 to its original mechanical specification.
Upon its debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August 2005, the Aravis was awarded First in Class, a testament to the quality of the restoration as well as the car’s historical significance and unmatched style. Since then, the Mullin Collection has shown the Aravis at several leading events, including the 2009 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, and loaned it to the Petersen Automotive Museum in 2016 for an exhibit called “Rolling Sculpture.”
Among the finest jewels of the Mullin Collection, 57768 remains in exquisite, concours-quality condition and retains its matching-numbers engine (no. 75C), original Gangloff Aravis coachwork, and important Type 57C-specific components.
