It all began in 1934 with French racer Rene Dreyfus – a prominent figure in the 1920s and 1930s Grand Prix racing, with his peak performance being the win at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1930. At that time, Dreyfus, being intoxicated, challenged Swiss playboy Adalbert Bode to a poker game in Paris and, when he ran out of money, he wagered his 1925 Bugatti Type 22.
We can probably guess the outcome: Dreyfus lost the bet and Bode brought the car back to Switzerland. However, Dreyfus couldn’t cross the border as he couldn’t provide the necessary vehicle documentation, so he had to leave the car with the customs. The seized car was then disposed of in the easiest way for them at that time… by throwing it into Lake Maggiore.
This French automotive industry masterpiece then had a peaceful period of 75 years until 2009 when the car was retrieved. Back then, the locals were not very determined to “rescue” the valuable vintage Bugatti under the lake.
It wasn’t until a member of a local diving and salvage club lost his life in a collision on the road that the club finally decided to raise funds by selling the car for charity to support the family and combat youth violence.
Initially, they expected to raise $57,000 from the French vintage car, but the actual amount (not disclosed precisely) turned out to be much higher after the surprise auction attracted art car collectors like Peter Mullin from the US. He currently showcases the car in its original retrieved condition at the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California.
Reference: Robb Report
The Most Intriguing Bugatti in the World: Stranded at the Borders, Thrown into a Lake for 75 Years, Found Again for Unforeseen Purpose and Sold for an Astonishing Sum
The revival saga of Bugatti is a tale that truly deserves a special place in the history of the renowned French automaker.
