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Presentation of 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Convertible at Old Car Festival in Greenfield Village, September 1959

THF725626 / Presentation of 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Convertible at Old Car Festival in Greenfield Village, September 1959
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Artifact Overview

Charles and Esther Chayne gifted their 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale to The Henry Ford in 1958. They made the formal presentation during ceremonies at the following year's Old Car Festival. The Chaynes bought the car in 1943. Its original owner, German physician Joseph Fuchs, had turned the Bugatti over to a salvage yard after its engine block was damaged.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Slide (Photograph)

Date Made

20 September 1959

Subject Date

20 September 1959

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

EI.1929.T.3682.D

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Color

Multicolored

Dimensions

Height: 2 in
Width: 2 in

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    1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Convertible

    Longer than a Duesenberg. Twice the horsepower of a Rolls-Royce. More costly than both put together. The Bugatti Royale was the ultimate automobile, making its owners feel like kings. Not only did it do everything on a grander scale than the world's other great luxury cars, it was also rare. Bugatti built only six Royales, whereas there were 481 Model J Duesenbergs and 1,767 Phantom II Rolls-Royces.