The stories behind this car are the stuff of legend.
At its heart, it is a Type 57 which was among the most powerful and stylish models of a Bugatti line known for excess on a baroque scale. The more famous Type 57 sculpted Atlantic “S” versions designed by Jean Bugatti are among the world’s most desirable cars.
Fit the same chassis with an aerodynamic shell and the Type 57S (the S standing for surbaissé) becomes a streamlined “tank” car that was ready to up-shift through Tetre Rouge roar down the Mulsanne straight. The 1937 version with trademark blue/black paint won at Le Mans. With Europe on the brink of war in 1939, Jean brought this solid blue tank to the fight at Le Sarthe in what would be the last great racing hurrah for the Bugatti nameplate and with Pierre Veyron as the star driver, it won the event. The car nor its creator survived long however, taking it on a test drive near the Molsheim works, the 30 year old Bugatti swerved to avoid a cyclist and died in a horrific crash.
This then, is an important car to have in a model collection but despite the provenance is likely to have limited appeal to the diecast hobby community. So how do you make a small run of a new mold? Le Mans Miniatures answer to this problem is simple: make the model from resin which simplifies production. Package the model in a beautiful heavy acrylic case and double-box it in very chic black, complete with officially licensed “24 Heures Du Mans” stickers.
It all works brilliantly as eye candy. Of course there are some compromises with resin: the parts aren’t going to open and the shine isn’t the same. But given the vintage of this model and its nature as an endurance racer these qualities actually give it the benefit of an heirloom type of feel which is entirely appropriate. Nut resin doesn’t always have just shortcomings - it is great for making driver figures and there in the cockpit is a well chiseled model of Veyron himself. Other details tend to be extraordinary than I’ve seen on resin models previously; the cyclops headlight behind the trademark horseshoe shaped grill to the ruggedized texture of the filler caps and surprisingly graceful wire wheels are all wonderfully crafted.
This model is not for everyone. The price tag is at the edge of reasonable and Le Mans collectors tend to favor 1/18 scale. However, for those Bugatti and vintage race car enthusiasts it seems like a no brainer. The stout character and quality display (not to mention the car’s history) make it a great conversation for your desk. Me? Well, I just can’t stop looking at it. It is so unusual, so different and so unique…and it’s been awhile since I had a model that was, as my daughter says, all that.
-Rusty Hurley