T44 Restoration
One of our clients owned a Bugatti T44 that hadn't turned a wheel for years
This is how it looked when it arrived at our premises. At first glance the car looks in reasonably good condition. However, the client knew its original colour wasn't red. The client asked us to put the car back to 'new' condition, fully restored, mechanically sound and painted in its original colours.
With all major restorations, the devil is in the detail
The engine had been completely stripped and left in bits, at least many of its components had been kept in the boot.
The client had a record of the car with historic photographs
At some point in its past, the car had been painted black. Thanks to the memory of a previous owner, our client discovered the car was originally painted two-tone when it first left the factory.
The car was completely stripped down and given a good clean
During this process it was noted that certain components had some of the original paint on them. Ultimately, this helped us to match the colours perfectly.
The interior needed a lot of attention, as did the hood
Whilst the car may not have turned a wheel for many years, it was evident from the upholstery and trim, it had once been used and driven extensively.
The dashboard was very delapidated and in need of attention
With the client's permission, we found an elegant piece of rosewood to replace the tired, old dashboard.
While all of the specialist cosmetic work was being undertaken
One of our automotive engineers had a serious job to do on the engine. As you can see it looked stunning when he'd finished with it.
It wasn't long before the body was ready for painting
Here's the car just before it was delivered to our specialist sub-contractor for painting.
One photograph gives an idea of what the original colours really were
These are the 'before-and-after' pictures of the rear of the car. The picture on the left clearly shows some of the woodwork had seen better days.
Here's the finished car, just before it returned to our client
The new upholstery looks immaculate, as does the hood. What really pleased our client was the fact the car was back in its original colours.
The completed Bugatti T44 in action
Here it is, only this time it's where it should be, on the road enjoying the action. Following completion, its very first outing was the International Bugatti Rally held in June 2017 on the beautiful island of Sardinia. Not surprisingly, the car performed brilliantly and attracted many admirers.
