[Book Review] The Art of Bugatti

The Art of Bugatti

Richard Adatto, Christina Japp and Julius Kruta

Published by the Mullin Automotive Museum with Coachbuilt Press, this book embodies the desire of founder Peter Mullin to celebrate not only the artistry of the automobile, but the art deco movement as well. To that end, museum curator Andrew Reilly writes: โ€œMany knowledgeable people consider the French automobiles of the inter-war years to represent the pinnacle of automotive developmentโ€”a golden era in which handcraftsmanship embraced new technology and produced automobiles of unprecedented beauty and capability.โ€

This book concentrates on the contributions to that movement of Ettore Bugatti, and begins by tracing the history of the Bugatti family as an artistic dynasty, before turning its focus toward Ettoreโ€™s efforts to create memorable motorcars, the first of which appeared in public at the 1910 Paris Auto Salon.

The superb period photography that illustrates the history of the marque is wonderfully supplemented by Michael Furmanโ€™s modern images of the cars in the museumโ€™s collection, including those acquired from the controversial Schlumpf Reserve Collection that feature the patina of unrestored age. Thereโ€™s also a chapter dealing with VWโ€™s recent revival of the marque, as well as a look at Bugatti-designed furniture, the work of Ettoreโ€™s brother Carlo.

โ€œMany knowledgeable people consider the French automobiles of the inter-war years to represent the pinnacle of automotive developmentโ€”a golden era in which handcraftsmanship embraced new technology and produced automobiles of unprecedented beauty and capability.โ€

A feast for Bugatti lovers and a treat for anyone with an appreciation for the art from of the automobile, this book is available for US$95 from Coachbuilt Press at www.CoachbuiltPress.com