1925 Bugatti Type 23

Sold for $230,000 at 2011 Mecum Auctions - Monterey, CA The Daytime Auction.
The Brescia-type body style was named after its four-place sweep victory in the 1921 Italian Voiturette Grand Prix at Brescia.

The Bugatti Brescia Type 23 was a descendant of the first Type 13 introduced in 1910. The Bresia was given the Type 13's four-cylinder, four-valve overhead cam engine, an advanced design that was truly unique. The engine was bored out to 69mm resulting in a displacement size of 1.5 liters. The four-cylinder engine was the first multi-valve engine in a full-production car in automotive history. The Type 23 was a durable vehicle with great steering and superb road-holding characteristics.

This Brescia Roadster has been judged 'Most Elegant Open Car' at the 1980 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It is characterized by its pear-shaped radiator, quarter-elliptic springs, split windscreen, unique nautical-style touring bodywork, and elegant flying fenders.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2011