Bugatti Type 44 Tourer By Ghia

The Type 44 was Bugatti's 3.0-litre straight-eight touring car of the late 1920s, and this one wears open four-seat style coachwork by Ghia of Turin. Chassis 44477 was delivered new to Palermo in 1929 and has been presented as an unrestored, preservation-class car rather than a refurbished one.

Its originality is the point. The Rexine body covering is original and cracked with age but intact, and the carpets, leather seats and door cards are worn and patinated. The original hood frame, hood and side screens remain, along with the blanking tongues for the side-screen openings and the supplying agent's plaque on the dash (Rossi & Tagliabue). A parts catalogue and instruction manual come with it.

Original Italian paperwork starts from 24 April 1929 and runs on through the 1930s and 1940s. The car emerged from storage in Palermo a few years ago and has featured in several magazine articles since. The engine is standard apart from a more modern carburettor, and the original Schebler unit is included. The car is Italian-registered and is viewable near Milan by appointment. The page shows the price in euros (€790,000).