For a buyer eyeing the Bugatti’s pedigree, the $240,800 price tag feels oddly tame. A single‑owner, six‑decade barn find should have fetched closer to the $350,000 low end, yet the auction floor stayed below that threshold.
Under the hood lies a 1,496cc SOHC inline‑four that cranks out 60 bhp at 4,500 rpm. It’s mated to a four‑speed manual, four‑wheel drum brakes and a solid front axle with semi‑elliptical leaf springs. The engine is still the original matching‑numbers unit, a rarity in itself.
In the classic arena, the Bugatti sits between a 1951 Ferrari 342 America that fetched $1.1 million and a Morgan Three‑Wheeler that traded for just over $200,000. The auction spread shows the market’s appetite for high‑roarder stories, even when provenance is spotless.
The sale was part of the New Woodstock Collection, which also saw a Ferrari and a Porsche trade hands without reserve. Import duties, dealer fees and the luxury‑car tax bracket all play a quiet role in how buyers value these pieces, making the final hammer price a signal of broader sentiment.
Collectors should note that the next major auction cycle will feature a handful of pre‑war Bugattis and a few late‑50s Porsches. Pay attention to post‑sale restoration costs and any changes in import duties – they can swing a classic’s value by the tens of thousands.