In 1934, the story begins with French racer Rene Dreyfus, a prominent figure in the 1920s and 1930s Grand Prix racing. His shining moment came in 1930 when he won the Monaco Grand Prix. One fateful night in Paris, fueled by alcohol, Dreyfus challenged the Swiss playboy Adalbert Bode to a poker game. Unfortunately, luck was not on Dreyfus’ side, and he ended up wagering his 1925 Bugatti Type 22 when he ran out of money.
As expected, Dreyfus lost the bet, and Bode took the car back to Switzerland. However, Dreyfus encountered a problem when he tried to cross the border. He lacked the necessary vehicle documentation, resulting in the car being seized by customs. In order to dispose of the car quickly, the authorities decided to throw it into Lake Maggiore.
This masterpiece of the French automotive industry remained at the bottom of the lake for 75 years until it was finally retrieved in 2009. The local community initially showed little interest in “rescuing” the valuable vintage Bugatti.
It was a tragic incident that changed everything. One member of a local diving and salvage club lost his life in a collision on the road. In response to this tragedy, the club decided to raise funds by auctioning off the car for charity. The proceeds would support the victim’s family and help combat youth violence.
The club had initially hoped to raise $57,000 from the auction. However, the actual amount exceeded expectations, thanks to the participation of avid art car collectors like Peter Mullin from the US. Today, the car can be admired in its original retrieved condition at the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California.
Reference: Robb Report
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