1925 Brescia Bugatti Found in Swiss Lake

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It’s amazing what one can find underwater, worthless or priceless objects, pieces of history long forgotten, the possibilities are endless. A diving club from the Swiss city of Ascona (Centro sport subacquei salvataggio Ascona) went on a routine on the Verbano Lake last weekend and what they found left them speechless.

A Brescia Bugatti model was resting peacefully on the lake's bed for more than 70 years.

There are about 3000 Bugattis worldwide, from which only 160 are in Switzerland, TopSpeed found out. Nobody knows how this classic car ended in the lake, but details will emerge as soon as the vehicle is brought to surface and studied.

From the number of the car, this Brescia Bugatti has been put in circulation on April 11, 1925, in Nancy, France, Mr Hans Matti, an expert in the Bugatti history could only tell so far. So, we have a car built by an Italian manufacturer, first registered in France, found in a Swiss lake. That car travelled a lot!

Hopefully, when the team of divers who found the car get it back on land on July 12, we will find out more of the vehicle’s complicated history.

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Needless to say, that car is not restorable. However, it will go on sale later on, at a charity event in favor of Fondazione Damiano Tamagni.

There were different versions of the Bugatti Brescia built, and once the car is studied by experts, we will find exactly what model it was.

The Type 13 Brescia cars were the only Bugatti models to locate the carburettor on the left hand side of the engine and the exhaust on the right. As for the Type 23 Brescia Tourer, the model was the first full-production multi-valve car ever made.

filed under: Bugatti Brescia Bugatti classic car

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On 16 July 2009 at 17:05 UTC, R. M. N. said:

You need to do a little more research before writing an article. First off, E. Bugatti may have been of Italian decent, BUT he built his cars in FRANCE, and considered himself a Frenchman...Secondly, this was not the first time this car was "discovered". It had been known that it was there prior to this effort to rescue it. While I don't have the exact details at hand, the car was part of an original order for 3 such models, and apparently there was some problem with the original purchaser not being able to pay/affort the tax on the car. Finally, while the car is certainly in well deteriorated condition, it is certainly restorable. There have been many cars in lesser, and less complete, condition restored. And a car of this vehicle's rarity, desirability, potential value and provenance would definately merit the expense and effort. It won't be easy or cheap, but it is definately POSSIBLE.

On 6 May 2010 at 17:55 UTC, fivesythnz said:

HEAR! HEAR! to R. M. N.'s comment..., & may the person's involved in the Bugatti's rebuild savor & enjoy every sencond of it...., i know i would..., & the SEE it could be DONE feeling is like no other,
fivesythnz.