Automobile Bugatti Type 49 Berline by Million-Guiet 1931 in vendita

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Chassis No. 49377

Introduced in 1930 and offered through 1933, the Type 49 was the last model conceived by Ettore Bugatti himself, the final expression of his engineering philosophy before he passed the reins to his son, Jean. It was also the last Bugatti to employ an engine derived from the victorious Type 35: a road-tuned inline-eight with three valves per cylinder and a single overhead camshaft. Expanded to 3.3 liters for touring use, it delivered greater torque and flexibility, and, for the first time, the engine was fitted with a fan, while the radiator was enlarged for improved urban drivability.

By the early 1930s, when most substantial bodies were still built around timber framing, the Paris coachbuilder Million-Guiet was pioneering its TOUTALU bodies, a French contraction meaning "all aluminum," constructed entirely of sheet aluminum to a patent filed by racing driver Jean de Vizcaya.

It was them, in the early 1930s, who endowed Bugatti Type 49 Berline chassis number 49377 with its body combining luxury with advanced construction. An archival record prepared in Grenoble on 24 December 1931 lists Bugatti Type 49 chassis 49377 as a sedan owned by Monsieur Paul Pajou of Montpellier, southern France. The car remained registered there until 1934, when it was transferred to Marseille, changing hands twice, in 1941 and again in 1947.

In 1959, chassis 49377 was rediscovered by young Bugatti specialist Jean Novo in a scrapyard on the French Riviera, still retaining its Million-Guiet sedan body. The car returned to the road in 1963 under a new Marseille registration, followed by a further registration update in northern France in 1981. By September 1991, it was proudly participating in the prestigious Bugatti Meeting at Château de Seneffe in Belgium.

Acquired by the Peter Mullin Collection in 2012, the Bugatti subsequently joined the ranks of the celebrated Mullin Automotive Museum, where it was exhibited following a comprehensive restoration completed in 2005 by respected British marque specialists Gentry Restorations.

One of only 470 Type 49s built, this beautifully presented example offers a rare opportunity to acquire the ultimate expression of Ettore Bugatti's road-car philosophy, fresh from one of the world's most celebrated automotive museums.

1931 Bugatti Type 49 Berline by Million-Guiet | The Quail Auction 2026

1931 Bugatti Type 49 Berline by Million-Guiet | The Quail Auction 2026

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