Bugatti Type 10

At the same time as he creates Type 9 for Deutz by whom he is employed, Ettore builds in his villa's cellar, helped by his faithful friend Felix Kortz, a light car of small capacity probably inspired by Isotta-Fraschini FENC made by engineer Stefanini. Its performances and its handiness are exceptional for time. It is nicknamed at first " la baignoire " (bathtube) by inhabitants and Molsheim's staff because of its shape, then " le homard " (lobster) by Bugatti family when it is repainted in red-orangy colour at the end of the 30s. Having been protected in Milan during the first world war, it is then piously preserved by Ettore Bugatti until 1939 in Molsheim, then evacuated to Bordeaux with all the factory's machines in the aim to escape the Nazi occupant. Curiously, Ettore does not repatriates it in Paris at the end of 1940 with the rest of the material. It so spends 20 years in Bordeaux or in its neighborhood before being got back by a French Army's sergeant which sales it to Antoine Raffaelli in Marseille in 1962. It is acquired then by Jean de Dobbeleer who trades Bugattis in Brussels. He resells it then to another collector in Brussels (a rich hotelkeeper - collector) who sales it himself in 1971 to Bud Catlett, buyer of Bill Harrah's collection in Reno - California, where it is completely restored and kept until 1988. It is in a private collection in California today. Bugatti Type 10 is the very first Pur-Sang created by Ettore Bugatti and signs the beginning of the fantastic legend of Ettore Bugatti Motorcars.   production year(s) end of 1908 - april 1909 sample(s) built 1 sample(s) surviving 1     cylinders number 4 in line, in one block capacity (cm3) 1 208 cm3 bore x stroke (mm) 62 x 100 power (BHP) near 30 valves / cylinder 2, visibles, curved rods camshaft(s) one overhead carburation one Bugatti carburettor transmission by shaft to rear wheels gearbox 4 + R, separated wheelbase (m) 2. 0 track (m) 1. 0 weight (kg) near 450 kg maximum speed 90 kph

Type 10 in 1909 or 1910, probably in Strasbourg. Note the curious radiator mascot, probably an Ettore's (short-lived) whim ... Ettore Bugatti at the wheel of his Type 10. Photo extracted from a 1926 Bugatti catalog A rare photo of time of Type 10 engine, seen on inlet side An other view of Type 10 engine, fitted to the car We know nothing about this curious photo, date and place unknown. We re-know only Rembrandt Bugatti at the steering wheel of Type 10 Barbara Bugatti's very rare photo, wife of Ettore. She is at the steering wheel of Type 10 while Friderich, the faithful co-worker and friend of Ettore starts the engine. Unknown date Ettore's younger brother, Rembrandt Bugatti, in spite of his tall size (1.93 m), settled down in Type 10 during a visit to Ettore at Molsheim Type 10 such as it was found in 1962 around by Bordeaux. Radiator and gearbox were missing Type 10 after restoration by the great collector Bill Harrah in Reno (California - USA). Radiator was remade to identical. It is always in California today, in a private collection Type 10 engine, seen on inlet side, after restoration Type 10 engine, seen on outlet side, after restoration