59 Years on!.......................The return of 37371
Have you noticed how vintage cars suddenly disappear from sight and equally suddenly return years later under new and enthusiastic guardianship? Such is the case with a Type 37A Bugatti which is appearing this weekend at Prescott after 59 years of absence. The car now belongs to Neil Perkins who intends to campaign the car on circuits with Stephen Genrty ‘doing’ hill climbs. The car has just undergone a full restoration to bring it back to the same specification which it last appeared all those years ago including the silver paintwork.
The car, a Type 37A , chassis No. 37371, has a rich documented competition chronology, no doubt the envy of many! Its pedigree commences on 14th May 1929 when it was invoiced by the Molsheim factory for delivery to their London agency. The car was subsequently purchased by Jack Lemmon Burton’s father as a 21st birthday present for his son in 1931/32. Jack made his Shelsley Walsh debut on the 5th September 1931 achieving a best time of 57.0 seconds. This and his appearance at The Lewis Speed Trials in May 1932 where he took third place was with what is almost certainly a borrowed Type 37.
Jack’s birthday was 7th June 1932, where shortly after having acquired his ‘birthday present’ he achieved 1st in Class at 46.4 seconds at Shelsley Walsh on the 25th June; 3rd in Class at Shelsley and 1st in Class at the Lewis Speed Trials both in September 1932. During 1933, 1934 he competed with some success at Brooklands Lewes Speed Trials, Shelsley Walsh and the Bugatti Owners Club’s Chalfont Hill-Climb.
Early in 1935 Jack sold the car to Alan Bainton who continued to campaign 37371 throughout 1935 through to 1939. The car’s first appearance at Prescott was at the BOC meeting of 27th August 1938 where it achieved a 1st in Class at 50.10 seconds. The car was acquired shortly after by Mrs Sheila Darbishire who continued to race at Prescott gradually improving her times to 53.30 seconds in August 1946. It was then acquired by Lady Mary Grosvenor, daughter of the Duke of Westminser from the Blake Brothers to whom Mrs Darbishire has recently sold it. The car continued to be campaigned at Prescott and Shelsley, the highlight of which was recorded by Motor Sport “The event had been enlivened by Lady Mary Grosvenor vanishing into the ravine before the S bend in her Bugatti” The car was acquired by Peter Reace in 1948 who achieved a best time at Prescott of 48.01 before its last appearance in August 1949 at VSCC Prescott managing a best time of 49.30 secs, fastest time of day until beaten by the almost invincible T35B of Peter Stubberfield who after damaging his gearbox on his first run, rebuilt it just in time to take his second run as the last run of the day.
By 1952 the car had been exported to California where it competed in a variety of historic race meetings. Its last outing in anger was at Santa Barbara in 1960. Thus after a rich competition history and much careful preparation it returns this weekend after an absence of some 59 years; welcome home!
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