1971 Teal Bugatti Type 44 4-seater

The Bugatti Type 44 was the most prolific of all the Molsheim cars, with more than a thousand eventually being built. Designed as a high-performance touring, rather than a sports, car the Type 44 entered production in 1927 before being pensioned off in 1930.

This example of the TEAL T44 is believed the be the only four-seater vehicle ever built by the company. Bought by the current owner in 2013 to be used in his wedding car business, it is tax exempt by virtue of having a 1971 registration date on the V5 registration document. With only 13,000 miles on the odometer, the MOT has just been renewed and the car is freshly serviced and ready for its new owner to enjoy.

Finished in navy blue, the steel coachwork is an impressively accurate copy of the original Bugatti Type 44 and the attention to detail is obvious: King Of The Road-style headlamps dominate the imposing radiator grille, which is, of course, topped off with a period Boyce Motometer thermometer.

The paintwork is still glossy and the panel gaps are impressively tight and even. There are some small stone chips but there doesn’t look to be anything that would cause us even a moment’s concern.

The vintage look is further enhanced by the 18-inch knock-on spoked wheels, which are finished in red and shod with Blockley period-style tyres. However, while the rear-mounted spare tyre looks to be unused, the paint on all five wheels is rather faded in places, most notably on the nearside front.

The extensive chromework is generally bright, shiny and free of serious pits and damage although the chrome is flaking away on the nearside headlamp. The nearside front indicator is also showing some pitting and rusting.

The car also comes with a full length tonneau cover, side screens, and a folding hood, all of which are finished in a very attractive tan material and are in good condition.

Beautifully trimmed in oxblood leather, the interior is as exquisite as the exterior. The red leather is only very gently patinated and the low-back bucket front seats are still firm and supportive. The rear bench seat looks almost new and has clearly only seen light use. (And, as the seller states the car has been been used in an episode of Downton Abbey, those very same leather seats have accommodated some aristocratic backsides!)

The ivory faced dashboard instruments are finished with attractive brass bezels. Comprising a speedometer, rev counter, clock, oil pressure, water temperature and petrol gauges, they look wonderful and are completely in keeping with the period, as is the huge Mota-Lita wooden steering wheel and Bakelite dash-mounted rotary switch.

More modern touches include a heater, front and rear seatbelts, electric windscreen washers and wipers, and a stereo and Kenwood speakers.

The two-litre Ford ‘Pinto’ engine provides more than enough power to get the old girl going at quite a clip, aided and abetted by the slick-changing four-speed manual gearbox. Electronic ignition helps easy starting and smooth running.

Front discs and rear drums help pull her to a halt just as smartly, and the use of commonly available mechanical components mean that servicing and repairing the T44 is simple – and cheap! The owner tells us that she is running very well indeed.

The engine bay is nicely finished and detailed, and the heavy-duty steel chassis is in fine order, showing no signs whatsoever of either accident damage or rot. The underseal has flaked off in a few places but the remedial work would be cheap, easy and a hugely satisfying way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Sadly, the car doesn’t come with much in the way of paperwork other than the V5 registration document, MOT certificate, a couple of old invoices and a copy of a magazine article featuring the car.

Even though the seller tells us that the vehicle has been regularly serviced (which you would expect to have been the case considering its life as a wedding car) and the online MOT history doesn’t show anything of concern, we would encourage potential bidders to view the car for themselves and set their bids based solely on the car’s current condition.

If you want a four-seater TEAL T44 sitting in your garage, then this is your only chance. Similarly, if you’re looking for a vintage-style car to take the family out in on high days and holidays, or something to use as part of your business, whether that’s as a wedding car or just as a promotional vehicle, this TEAL T44 will be right up your street; it’s beautiful, tough, reliable and cheap and easy to service, attributes that can scarcely be said of the original!

We expect it to sell for between £20-25,000, which seems very reasonable to us given the high quality construction and its outstanding condition, and the reserve is much lower. Its scarcity and TEAL’s reputation should make it a safe place to keep your money, too.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Reading; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.