The Billionaire Collection
Incredibly Rare Ettore Bugatti Signed 1932 Race Entry for Louis Chiron: “Even before the start....”
$11,900.00
“Even before the start, I was sure of winning.” -Ettore Bugatti
Ettore Bugatti was one of the most important innovators and entrepreneurial figures in the history of motoring. He created a legacy of excellence, beauty, and winning, that would far outlive him.
Bugatti was born September 15, 1881 in Milan, Italy to Teresa and Carlo Bugatti, who was an important Italian Artistic furniture and jewelry designer. His younger brother, Rembrandt Bugatti also was a renowned artist who became famous for his animal sculptures.
Bugatti's father intended that he follow a conventional technical apprenticeship with one of the Milanese tri-/quadricycle manufacturers, but Ettore quickly demonstrated a deep instinctive understanding of motor-vehicle construction, and with Prinetti & Stucchi he constructed his "Bugatti Type 1" in 1898.
Over the next few years Bugatti designed cars for several companies including ‘Mathis-Hermes’, ‘Deutz’, and ‘Peugeot.’
In 1909, Ettore had the dream to finally build a car of his own making, and established, Automobiles E. Bugatti. He quickly became known for building some of the fastest, most luxurious, and technologically advanced road cars of his day. His exceptional engineering led to incredible success in early Grand Prix motor racing, with a Bugatti being driven to victory in the very first Monaco Grand Prix.
Ettore Bugatti was able to combine his family’s rich artistic legacy, with his own technical ideas, laying the foundation for a design style that would shape the brand and make it unmistakeable. His relentless endeavor helped create and lay the foundation for an automotive brand that would become one of the most renowned and valuable in the world – both then and now.
This incredible document, dated July 29, 1932, is the 1932 Klausen Race application for the start of Bugatti driver Louis Chiron, who the Bugatti Chiron model is named for. Chiron would win this race in the all-wheel drive Bugatti T53. This stunning piece of history has been filled out personally by Ettore Bugatti and signed in his own hand. A signature even more rare than the Bugatti’s that he is known for. We’ve never seen Ettore’s personal signature available anywhere, ever and this inclusion of Ettore Bugatti’s autograph makes this piece an absolute rarity.
Next to this beautiful document we’ve included a copy from the original of one of the few that exist of Ettore Bugatti behind the wheel of one of his masterpieces, his 1912 T18 Bugatti.
Centered below both of these is one of this incredible entrepreneur’s most prolific quotes that speaks to his strive for excellence.
“Even before the start, I was sure of winning.” -Ettore Bugatti
All of this is beautifully framed in our hand built, contemporary, wide frame, enhanced with professional white matting.
As with all of our works, every piece is original. Only the highest quality materials have been used in the assembly of this item. Sourced from the best manufacturers around the world, we build every frame tailored specifically for the item it will hold. Protected with 99% UV museum quality glass, and carefully crafted with acid free paper whenever possible. Our premium wood moldings are cut using the newest technology and every single piece is assembled and inspected by our team here in Los Angeles.
We stand 100% behind all of our works of art, and offer a lifetime guarantee on every piece, for as long as you own it.
