--- title: "This 1936 Bugatti Type 57 for Sale Used to Chauffeur Circus Elephants" description: "This 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux is in shambles but someone should save it because it's the only Bugatti to have taxied elephants around." date: "2024-04-08" modified: "2024-04-08" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/this-1936-bugatti-type-57-for-sale-used-to-chauffeur-circus-elephants" categories: - "Bugatti News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "bugatti" - "luxury" --- # This 1936 Bugatti Type 57 for Sale Used to Chauffeur Circus Elephants ![]() *Bring a Trailer* Classic Bugattis are things of immense beauty. Everything [Bugatti ]()made before the war was breathtakingly pretty and made with exceptional craftsmanship and luxury. So, as you can imagine, this 1936 Bugatti[ Type 57]() Ventoux was the perfect vehicle with which to transport elephants for the circus. And it's now for sale on [Bring a Trailer](). Only 700 of these Type 57 Ventouxs were made but I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is the only one that's had an elephant inside of it—mostly because it looks that way. According to the listing, it was ordered new in 1936 by Roger Spiessert, who was the director and animal tamer for Circus Pinder, a French circus. Legend has it that Spiessert drove the Bugatti around with an Elephant calf inside to promote the circus. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Unfortunately, this Bugatti is in horrid condition. It's completely stripped down to bare metal, there isn't an interior, and it's just a rolling chassis at this point. Its original, 3.3-liter inline-eight engine comes with the car but it isn't running and has a hole in the oil sump. It also comes with a four-speed manual transmission that's also separate. It probably smells better than it did when it was an elephant taxi, though. Yet, despite its decrepit condition, it isn't cheap, as there are still four days left on the auction and the current bid is at $100,057. This car deserves to be restored to its former glory, as the Type 57 Ventoux was a work of art when it was new. Its coachwork body was also designed by Jean Bugatti, the son of Ettore Bugatti, founder of the brand. Someone with very deep pockets, and potentially a love of elephants, is going to have to restore this old Bugatti. It's going to cost a fortune to do so but such an incredible car can't be left to waste away. Plus, whoever does have it restored will have the coolest car at the next concourse. Did any [Duesenbergs ]()taxi elephants around? I think not. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()