Fine Automobiles presents a Bugatti paradise in Paris

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If you're active in Bugatti circles or regularly visit pre-war events across Europe, you're sure to have come across Jack Braam Ruben or his business, Fine Automobiles. Braam Ruben inherited his love for pre-war cars from his father, who bought and sold a string of Bugattis through the 1950s and '60s. The young Jack made up his mind to follow in his father's footsteps and, while dealing in military surplus, bought a Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux at the age of 25, followed shortly thereafter by a Type 37 Grand Prix car.

The rest, of course, is history. Braam Ruben has been buying and selling old and exotic cars for over 40 years, and over 300 Bugattis have passed through his hands. He will be exhibiting several of his cars at Salon Rétromobile, in what promises to be one of the show's star attractions.

The Type 57 remains one of Braam Ruben's favourite models to this day, so you can expect to see not one but five on Fine Automobiles' stand at Rétromobile. The five cars will represent each of the elegant body styles offered by the Molsheim factory (6 in total), viz. the Aravis two-seat cabriolet, Atalante fastback, Stelvio four-seat cabriolet, Ventoux coupé and Galibier sports saloon. The supercharged Galibier was discovered by Braam Ruben's father in the early 1960s and, after a stint in the Louwman Museum, has been returned to Braam Ruben still entirely unrestored.

Ably assisting Braam Ruben in the running of Fine Automobiles is Philippe Mulders, who also fell in love with Bugattis at a young age, although his preference is more for the Grand Prix cars, sports models and Brescias. It all stems from stories he'd hear in his childhood about the Grand Prix Type 37 his grandmother's brother used to own.

In a happy twist of fate, through working for Braam Ruben, Mulders was eventually able to get behind the steeringwheel of his great-uncle's Bugatti, and he now drives it as much as possible, and will be showing it alongside the Type 57s. Braam Ruben and Mulders both hope that the Bugattis to prove as inspirational to children visiting at Rétromobile as they were to their own younger selves.

It's an exhibition not to be missed, and you'll find it all with Fine Automobiles (stand 1 M 042) at Rétromobile, held at the Expo Porte de Versailles in Paris from 1st to 5th February.
 

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