LE MANS miniatures Bugatti T57S 45 n°16 - GP ACF 1937

The Grand Prix de l’Automobile Club de France was considered the most prestigious of the French season. It took place on July 4, 1937 in Montlhéry. Among the competitors, Jean François for Delahaye finished developing the 145 V12. Bugatti is focusing on two of the T57 S45 with a T59 chassis and a 4.5-litre T50B engine. Bugatti also had to face Talbot and Delage with a new competitive GT.

Cars must arrive from Molsheim by road to participate in the race. Jean-Pierre Wimille’s Bugatti didn’t arrive in time for Thursday’s test. It was the fastest official Friday and Saturday test at 5:33.0 (135.917kph). Jean Bugatti only arrives with the second car on Saturday. It is entrusted to the expert hands of Robert Benoist who hopes to score some points in the championship, but having not been able to participate in the tests made (voluntarily?) a few laps on the circuit that will prove to be unauthorized. The organization therefore disqualified the driver. «In retaliation», Ettore Bugatti decided to withdraw the two teams from the race. We will not see Robert Benoist again on a circuit; he announced his retirement at the end of the season shortly before the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And we’ll never see the T57S45 again.

Car number 16 is driven by Jean-Pierre Wimille, who would probably have leaded if he had taken part in the event since he beat Raymond Sommer, the Ardennes Wild Boar, by 4 seconds in Saturday’s tests. In the end Talbot took the 3 steps of the podium. Louis Chiron was the first driver to win a 3rd Grand Prix de France.

Specification :

• Scale : 1/18
• Manufacturer name : Bugatti Tank
• Manufacturer model : T57S 45
• Competition : Yes
• Race : Grand Prix ACF
• Year : 1937
• Driver : Jean-Pierre Wimille