Lot Ended
Description
Fully rebuilt Marina 1.8 TC engine and gearbox; only 10,300 miles
from build; lovely dashboard; lots of history; lots to like!
This Teal
Bugatti comes with a large history file extending back to when the car was first
built by a Mr A Debes of Stockport in c.1987. It originally had a Ford 2.0 Pinto
engine but an article on file from the second owner, Mr B Cook of High Peak,
describes how he completely rebuilt the car over a two-year period in 2002/03.
This included fitting a Morris Marina 1.8 TC
engine which was fully rebuilt with new pistons, bearings, reground crank etc,
also being bored out to 1,950cc (although the V5C records the capacity as
1,800cc). Mersons of Stockport did the machining while Mr Cook did the final
assembly. Clearly a talented engineer, Mr Cook rebuilt the Marina gearbox
himself.
He also worked wonders on the
aesthetics. The stainless steel bulkhead, cabin liner panels and dashboard are
entirely his work, the latter using mainly Jaguar instruments with specially
made brass surrounds for that authentic old car look. The steel is in two layers
throughout with a sandwich of marine-grade birch plywood between to ensure that
it will last for decades.
He even made the
steering wheel from scratch, using a genuine Bugatti Brescia steering wheel as a
pattern with a hand-crafted walnut rim. This alone took three months to complete
although he did make another as a spare. He also machined his own stainless
steel nuts and other fastenings for the wheels and the body panels. A radiator
was also custom-made for the car by Hillgate Radiators of Stockport as these
Teals can offer suffer from over-heating, now not a problem on this one.
He was intending to remake the entire body in
aluminium (most of it is fibreglass) and to fit some wire wheels but evidently
never got round to these tasks. Much of the work he carried out is documented in
photos on file, along with detail shots of genuine Bugattis which he took for
inspiration.
The car then had two further owners
before it was acquired by our vendor in 2022. A doctor by profession, he is also
a competent engineer who enjoys tinkering with old cars by way of relaxation. He
has kept a detailed and charmingly illustrated log of all the improvements he
has made to the car since he acquired it.
These
include cleaning and waxing the chassis; brake and suspension overhaul; work to
the electrical system; new fuel hoses compatible with modern petrol; new fuel
pump; carbs rebuilt; new tonneau cover and sidescreens; general servicing and
tuning etc. There are also copious notes about the history of the car and tips
on maintenance.
He has driven some 2,000 miles in
the Teal and reports that it runs and drives well and always attracts lots of
attention. The odometer currently shows 10,245 miles which is the distance
covered from build.
Only reluctantly for sale
due to a back injury, this well-maintained and well-historied Teal is ready for
new adventures.
For more information contact
James on 07970 309907 or email
james.dennison@brightwells.com