Bugatti Type 59 & Rene Dreyfus - Monthlery - French Grand Prix

Description: A superb and rare photo of the famous Rene Dreyfus, who is about to start his Bugatti Type 59 racing car for the French Grand Prix which was ridden on the circuit of Monthlery on the 1ST of July, 1934 under rather hot racing conditions. Dreyfus is seen in the magnificent and extremely rare Bugatti Type 59. The Type 59 series succeeded the famous Type 35 as Bugatti's premier racing car for the 1930s. Unlike the dominant Type 35s of the prior decade, the Type 51 (and later Type 53, Type 54, and Type 59) were unable to compete with the government-supported German and Italian offerings. The original Type 51 bowed in 1931, it evolved eventually in the final Bugatti race car of the 1930s: the Type 59 of 1934. It used an enlarged 3.3 L (3257 cc/198 in³) engine sitting in a modified Bugatti Type 54 chassis. The engine was lowered for a better center of gravity, and the frame was lightened with a number of holes drilled in the chassis. The signature piano wire wheels were attached to the brake drums. 250 hp (186 kW) was on tap, and only 6 or 7 were made! Note the peculiar very thin “piano string” spokes on the wheels. It made the wheels incredibly strong and very stiff. René Dreyfus was born in 1905 in the French city of Nice, where he also was raised. He showed an early interest in automobiles, learning to drive before the age of nine. The middle of three children, his brother Maurice served as his business partner in his youth, and his manager in his racing career. Driving Maseratis, Ferraris, Delahayes, and Bugattis against some of the greatest drivers of all time, Dreyfus won 36 races across Europe, including Monaco, Florence, Rheims, Belgium, Cork, Dieppe, Pau, and at Tripoli in North Africa, becoming a French national hero. He acquired a Bugatti and joined the Moto Club de Nice for younger competitive automotive enthusiasts. In 1924 he won his class in the first amateur race he entered, being the only entrant in the class, and went on to win three consecutive French Riviera championships in the next five years. In 1929 he entered his first professional race, the inaugural Grand Prix of Monaco, finishing first in his class and fifth overall. The following year he won the race outright in a Bugatti, beating by 22 seconds the highly regarded Bugatti factory team, led by the first rank drivers William Grover-Williams, winner of the previous year and the great Louis Chiron. Realizing that factory cars were always faster than the cars owned by private entrants, Dreyfus reasoned that his only chance of winning lay in avoiding refueling stops, so he had additional fuel tanks added to his car with the intent of running the race without stop. This was not common practice at the time, since it was felt that fatigue would make it impossible, but Dreyfus’ strategy proved correct. The next few years saw Grand Prix racing become a metaphor for war, the Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union racing teams being extremely active. This led to a remarkable era of competition. Many of the best European drivers of the era, for instance Chiron, were hired by the German teams and jumped at the chance to drive the most advanced cars available. Although France had been the birthplace of automobile racing, it now was a distant third in the racing hierarchy, behind the all-consuming German onslaught and the perennially victorious Italians. In 1938 Dreyfus drove a Delahaye at Pau, a tight circuit running through village streets, beating the legendary Rudolf Caracciola and his Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow, and becoming a national hero in France. When World War II broke out, Dreyfus joined the French Army, where in an ironic touch he served as a truck driver. In 1940, however, he was abruptly sent by the French government to the United States to represent France by driving a Maserati in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Memorial Day 500. Although the previous year's race had been won by a Maserati driven by American Wilbur Shaw, neither Dreyfus nor his team partner René Le Bègue was familiar with the mechanical requirements and the very different rules of racing at Indianapolis; this problem was exacerbated by both drivers not knowing English, and by the American racing community's reluctance to see a European win the "Great American Race." Despite suffering numerous substantial setbacks and penalties for not understanding the details of the rules, beginning with their attempts to qualify their two cars, Dreyfus and LeBegue succeeded in co-driving the one car which they did qualify from the back of the grid to tenth place. Ironically, Shaw again won the race in another Maserati. In the meantime, the Germans had occupied France. Dreyfus was advised by the French government not to return to occupied France. Instead he settled in New York City, where he opened a French restaurant, "Le Gourmet." Upon the United States entering the war, in 1942 Dreyfus enlisted in the American army and served in Europe as an interrogator in the Italian Campaign. After the war, in 1945 he became an American citizen and brought his brother Maurice back to New York, where they opened another French restaurant, "Le Chanteclair." This soon became the semi-official New York meeting spot for the world's automobile racing community, the rivalries of the past having been overcome by the spirit of fraternity. It continues today as the Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving and Chowder Society, officially founded in March of 1957 and which meets monthly at Sardi's in NYC. Dreyfus continued to race sporadically, including the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans. His last race was the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1955. In 1980 he was invited back to the Monaco Grand Prix to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his victory. At age 75, he personally drove throughout Europe touring all the sites of his racing career, receiving public celebration and honors at each stop. At the banquet following the race, he was brought to the stage to sit once again in the Bugatti in which he had won, half a century earlier. This is a very nice and very rare non period photo that reflects a wonderful era of Bugatti ‘s automotive history in a wonderful way. This is your rare chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 7.1" x 12" (ca. 18 x 30 cm). It makes it perfectly suitable for framing. Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free! All our photos are modern photos that are traditionally made from what we believe are the original negatives and are copyright protected. (Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files and board backed envelopes. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club! First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.

Price: 9.95 USD

Location: Utr.

End Time: 2024-08-27T07:33:04.000Z

Shipping Cost: 7 USD