1930 Bugatti Type 40A Roadster

This 1930 Bugatti Type 40A is one of approximately 40 rumble-seat roadsters produced during a single model year and was purchased new by an owner in Paris. In 1937 it was sold to Parisian dealer Dominique Lamberjack, and by the 1950s it had been relocated to California, where it was acquired by collector Rudi van Daalen Wetters. The car remained with his family for several decades, during which a refurbishment was carried out in the mid-2000s at NostalgiCar in Korschenbroich, Germany. Work involved repainting the car in two-tone gray, retrimming the interior in color-keyed leather, and overhauling the cable-operated brakes. Following the seller’s purchase in 2016, the 1.6-liter inline-four was rebuilt, an alternator was added, and the exhaust system was replaced along with the clutch assembly for the four-speed manual transmission. Additional equipment includes a black soft top, a wood dashboard fascia, and 17” knock-off wire wheels.

The Type 40 debuted in 1926 and was available in multiple configurations through various coachbuilders. The 40A roadster was offered only in 1930 and featured a design penned by Jean Bugatti, son of the company founder. Bodywork for this model was produced in-house at the Molsheim factory in Alsace.