Bugatti history to come alive at Prescott for a special day in August

Published: 13/06/2024

The Bugatti Trust is offering an invitation to attend an illustrated presentation with Q&A on Sunday 25th August, entitled ‘The Carrosserie Joseph Figoni and les Voitures Surbaissées, Étienne Bunau-Varilla, and the Bugatti Sales Organisation in Paris in the 1920s’.  

The event will be held in the Prescott Clubhouse, GL52 9RD.  The price, including lunch (served after the presentation) will be £35 per person. Pre-booking is essential.

Arriving at 10.00 a.m. you will enjoy a rare and exciting opportunity to meet your hosts Peter Larsen and Ben Erickson, who have both been chronic gearheads all their lives. Peter and Ben, both automotive historians, have co-authored several motoring publications which among others include the three-volume book entitled The Kellner Affair: Matters of Life and Death, Talbot-Lago Grand Sport: The Car from Paris, Jacques Saoutchik: Maître Carrossier, and Jòseph Figoni, Le Grand Couturier de la Carrosserie Automobile: Alfa-Romeo.  

Peter has a wide taste in cars, having owned a Bizzarrini, Facel-Vega, Duesenberg Model J and a number of Maseratis, including two Ghiblis and a 5000GT.  He has an enduring fascination for French cars in general and Talbot-Lago in particular, including ownership of two T26 Grand Sports.

Ben who owns a translation company is fluent in five languages and in addition to being a connoisseur of the grand French classics, has a special interest in all things Iso as well as Swedish and American cars from the 70s and 80s.

Both judge at a number of international concours, including the Pebble Beach Concours, and are in the UK to judge at Salon Privé, which takes place at Blenheim Palace in August 2024.

Both authors have a fascination with coachwork and coachbuilding, in particular the great French carrossiers.  They will be delighted to share with the audience details of their new Figoni Bugatti book which is due to be published in 2024. 

The day will close with an informal visit to The Bugatti Trust.  See for yourself the 2024 exhibition dedicated to the celebration of the birth of the Grand Prix Bugatti 100 years ago in Lyon. The original GP Bugatti T35 on display is on loan from National Motoring Museum.

For details and bookings contact: Sue Barnes, The Bugatti Trust, Prescott Hill, Prescott, Cheltenham, Glos GL52 9RD or email info@bugatti-trust.co.uk.   Payment is preferred by telephoning the office on 01242 677201