Vintage Bugatti sports car concealed from invading Nazis in 1940 is set to fetch £1m at auction

A vintage Bugatti sports car that was given to factory owner Ettore Bugatti by his staff is set to fetch a million pounds at auction.



The 1938 Bugatti Type 57C was constructed to the last design created by Ettore's son Jean Bugatti.



It was just as well the black and green motor was built for speed, because it had to be driven off in a hurry and hidden from the Nazis when they invaded France in 1940.



Mean machine: The stylish black and green vehicle designed for Ettore Bugatti himself was hidden by the French from invading Germans in World War II

Factory driver Robert Benoist fled the German invaders, narrowly avoided capture and hid the car for the duration of World War II.



After hostilities and the death of Ettore 'Le Patron' Bugatti in 1947, the car was returned to the factory where it was driven by Pierre Marco, the firm's director general.

It stayed at the factory until 1959, during which time it was fitted with some new additions, including a three-spoke steering wheel, hydraulic brakes and distinctive radio.



Subsequent owners had to pass a test to ensure they were worthy enough to care for it.



Jean de Dobbeleer, from Belgium, and Americans Lyman Greenlee and William Howell all passed the test and cared for the car with meticulous levels of preservation.



The 3.3 litre, straight '8' cylinder car remains capable of speeds of 100mph and enthusiasts from around the world would love to own it.



Dramatic history: Factory driver Robert Benoist fled the German invaders, narrowly avoided capture and hid the car during the war

James Knight, from auctioneers Bonhams, which is selling the car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, said: 'This was a sporty, faster version of the Type 57.



'It was owned by Ettore Bugatti himself and it's thought that the workers in the factory gave it to him.



'It was designed by his son Jean, who was the in-house stylist and the history of the car is extremely well chronicled.



'It had to be hidden during the war from the advancing Nazis and afterwards it was returned to the factory.



'Bugatti had a tremendous motorsport pedigree all the way through the 1920s and 1930s.



Dream drive: The 3.3 litre, straight '8' cylinder car remains capable of speeds of 100mph

'It was capable of reaching 100mph and has been restored during its life.



'Bugatti is very much a global phenomenon and there are collectors on every continent who would love to own it.'

Mr Bugatti was born in Italy and set up up the company in 1909 in the Alsace region of France.



He considered himself to be an artist and car maker. His son Jean died in 1939 and the car for sale was his last design.



After the war the firm struggled and was bought in the 1960s for its aeroplane parts business and the name is now owned by Volkswagen.

