Bugatti Grand Raid photographs found

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Looking for something completely different in the photographic files, we bumped into the pictures seen here. These are shots, unseen in public before we think, that we’d forgotten about. How could we? They are rather nice. And intriguing, too.

Wasn’t that the great Grand Raid? It was. A mere Google-search brought further enlightenment: this has to be the two-tone black and yellow Gangloff bodied Type 57 Grand Raid that’s now in the Dutch Louwman collection. A stunning car in every respect. It’s seen here at a Bugatti meeting in the 1950s (picture 2), judging by the ‘Continental Reifen’ banner probably in Germany, but also at a different venue with wings in a different hue (picture 3) and, best of all, on a mountain road with two ladies who could well be twin sisters! (above). We know who owned the car at the time as the photos were given by his grandson, but still, have no clue who the girls are.

We also noted the headlights. They certainly are placed differently here, integrated into the front wings and making the car even more aerodynamic. Unlike any other Type 57, but then that went for much of the Grand Raid… Was it a later modification? Or perhaps not? The same goes for the chrome or nickel plated windscreen pillars, which follow the shape of the line running from the top of the bonnet to the rear wings. Pretty for sure, but not anymore there. Mods, too?

As in Bugatti circles, it was just a few more clicks before stumbling upon chassis numbers, revealing this specific car’s identity, too: #57222. Or was it #57221? Dissonance under the Bugattists? We don’t want to open cans of worms here, and quickly clicked away from the specialist’s for making us dizzy with numbers… Further enlightenment would be appreciated never the less!

Words and photographs by Jeroen Booij.

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