A 1925 Bugatti Type 35B GP two-seater, once owned by former Bugatti Owners’ Club director and Bugantics editor Jack Perkins, is to be sold by Bonhams at Goodwood Festival of Speed on 1 July. The gorgeous Bugatti has a pre-sale estimate of £400,000 – 500,000.
Perkins, who died in August 1992, discovered the car at an aerodrome in Nottinghamshire in 1950, where it was being driven around for fun by the ground staff. Having snapped it up for £60, he set about building the fastest possible Type 35B. The result, which featured a methanol burning engine and a streamlined single-seater body, made its debut at Prescott, the home of the Bugatti Club, on 19 May 1954, setting a best time of 52.15 seconds.
Perkins continued to campaign this car until his last meeting in 1988 when, aged 78, he decided to retire from the sport. During this time, the car achieved its fastest time of 46.21 seconds at the May 1981 hill climb.
After his retirement, the car was returned to its original two-seater Grand Prix specification by historic racing specialist, Rod Jolley. Perkins passed away just before the restoration was complete and, soon after, his widow, Jean, decided to exhibit the car at the Haynes Motor Museum in Somerset, where it remained until December last year.
James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car