A classic Bugatti which the Duke of Westminster’s daughter used to set a speed record that stood for 35 YEARS is expected to sell for£1.5 million at auction.
The 1929 Bugatti 37A was first owned by enthusiast Jack Lemon Burton after he was given it by his father for a 21st birthday present.
Burton, the founding member of the Bugatti Owners’ Club, would race the French sports car around the country for five years.
After changing hands a number of times and having a new engine fitted, the car came into the ownership of Lady Mary Grosvenor, the daughter of the Duke of Westminster.
Lady Grosvenor was a keen racing driver and, in 1947, she set the ladies’ Bugatti race record at the Prescott Hill Climb.
She drove car up the challenging hill in just 52.79 seconds – with the record standing for 35 years.
The car was sold to Peter Reace in 1948 who achieved a best time at Prescott of 48.01 before its last appearance in August 1949.
The Bugatti left the UK in 1952, heading to California for 50 years and in 2007 was fully restored.
Its current owner has now decided to sell up and has asked Bonhams to auction it off at next month’s Paris sale.
The car, known as chassis 37371, is expected to generate a lot of interest from collectors with Bonhams estimating it will sell for around £1.5 million.
Philip Kantor, head of Bonhams Motor Cars Europe, said: “This Bugatti has a history that is comprehensive and fascinating but, most importantly, continuous and fully documented.
“Owned by Jack Lemon Burton and subsequent well-known car enthusiasts, we look forward to being able to offer it at auction back on home soil in France.”
