Flowers for a lady, and a winner’s kiss too! And she deserved it, because she just won the race in her Bugatti. Her racer is a Bugatti Type 52, the ultimate children’s status symbol of the twenties and thirties. Originally designed by Ettore Bugatti for his second son Roland, it’s a faithful replicated half-scale version of the racing Type 35 (ddavid.com). Powered by a single 12 volt electric motor with an integral 4-speed gearbox, the Type 52 was capable of a speed of ten to twelve mph. Braking was done by way of expanding wooden shoes in rear drums. Even then very expensive. Originals are now very highly sought after. (photo courtesy Jaap Horst of the Bugatti web).

December 2, 2005