"What Kind of Man Reads Playboy"... circa 1932

Absolutely stunning Rich.😎💯

OMG what a BEAST.  How the hell did he ever drive it around town?  In the pic he looks out of scale.....or he's a Lilliputian.

been fascinated by Bugatti Royale history for years. Thanks Rich

Posted by: @geoff-jowett

been fascinated by Bugatti Royale history for years. Thanks Rich

Me too!  I love the fact that there were 6 or 7 chassis produced and 11 bodies plus one proposed racing design! I'm gradually gathering the set together: Just the Opera Window version of the first chassis 41100 left as the Binder version of Rich's 41111 (below right) now has its wheels back on! A useful detail I gleaned some years ago is that when Ettore crashed the Weymann (4th. body) of chassis 41100 a "switch was made" so the chassis was scrapped; the engine retained (as can be seen in various old photos) and the Bugatti household took possession of the Napoleon Coupe without paying French tax authorities exorbitant purchase tax - hence there are seven engines but only six documented! That spare engine went into the Esders replica that Rich has photographed so superbly and parts of the discarded chassis went into the replica of the Packard body, first prototype below left which was originally green.

excellent Charles, some great research there. Heres some more detail on your solo pick, although I assume you would know this. Bit of intrigue where the builders of the prototype recreation believe it is built on the original 41100 chassis. You need to scroll about a 10th of the way down

https://www.bugattipage.com/2011news.htm

I know all of the models in your line display except what is the blue/black version 3rd from the right please? Between the Edsers and I assume the 41131 Limousine Park Ward?

Heres 4 I have in 1/24, 2 FMs and 2 kits.

@geoff-jowett This is a fantastic set-up of magnificent models, Geoff; like Rich's example these Royales look magnificent in 1/24.  The model you're asking about is the Kellner chassis no.41141 by DeAgostini, and is a very neat little model - seventh and final Type 41 of which I include some details below.  Your piece was very interesting and does cover the points regarding the supposed rebuilding of chassis 41100 and the discarding of its original chassis and engine - what could be left of 41100 ? Without understanding that a new chassis - as yet unnumbered was rolling off the workshop floor and thus the crash allowed Bugatti to give the new Chassis the older, crashed car's chassis number to save on purchase tax, the story and parts don't add up. I got the information - alluded to - from "Les Plus Belles Voitures Du Monde" by Jacques Rousseau and Michel Iatca / Hachette 1963 which I find to be something of a bible.

Chassis no.41141 was bricked-up with 41100 and 41150 during World War II at the home of the Bugatti family in Ermenonville, to avoid being commandeered by the National Socialists.[2] Sold together with 41150 by L'Ebe Bugatti in the Summer of 1950 to American Le Mans racer Briggs Cunningham, in return for FR₣200000, ($571 US) plus a pair of new General Electric refrigerators, then unavailable in post-war France.[2] Note that the French franc had been drastically devalued in the years immediately following the war. The refrigerators were included out of gratuity. The car was rough but drive-able. Taking the refrigerators into account, he essentially paid about US$600 per car. Restoration costs would bring the total cost up to about 1 million Francs, or $2,858 US, per car. The cars were delivered to the States in January 1951.

After closing his museum in 1986,[20] in 1987 the car was sold direct from Briggs Cunningham's collection by Christie's for £5.5 million or $9.7 million U.S. at the Royal Albert Hall, to Swedish property tycoon Hans Thulin [sv].

The car was also offered for auction in 1989 by Kruse in Las Vegas, USA. Ed Weaver bid to US$11.5 million, which was declined by Thulin as the reserve was US$15 million. On collapse of his empire, Thulin sold the car in 1990 for a reported $15.7 million to Japanese conglomerate the Meitec Corporation [ja],[21] and it resided in their modern building basement before being offered for sale for £10million by Bonhams & Brooks by private treaty in 2001.[2]

Ownership is presently unknown, but it has been shown in recent years by Swiss broker Lukas Huni.[22]

Great historical narratives everyone!

Posted by: @charles-rockett

The model you're asking about is the Kellner chassis no.41141 by DeAgostini, and is a very neat little model - seventh and final Type 41 of which I include some details below.

fantastic, thanks Charles, I love reading this sort of material.