Bugatti Coupe Napoleon

Hi Guys, After checking out all the great cars being put up on this site, the great finishes and painting techniques, I thought I might have a go. This kit has been in the back of the cupboard, half started and primed for probably over 20 years.

The chassis is done in silver nail polish but still has all the chrome to go on
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I'm not sure what to call the next bit with the running boards and bits on but it is in a blue nail polish that looks darker in the bottle than it does on the model.

It's all being built as per the instructions, engine is in chassis silver which seems to be close to the original from what I can find. I will be putting all the kit chrome on but it doesn't appear that the bonnet can be opened. Not sure how to do it, can't find a decent photo on the net. The model shows hinges down the centre line and hold down clips on the bottom of the side covers. I'll take some more pics and post up so you guys can offer some advice.

Thanks for looking, hope you enjoy it. Cheers.

Now that's a very cool one,will be watching the out come of it.

I got one of these in the stash (i'm thinking lose the rear seats and make the worlds longest roadster).  IIRC the whole bonnet lifts off as one piece rather than hinge like it would IRL.

I built one of these about 25 years ago, in two tone black and yellow.

Not surprised you can't find much on the net about this car, as they were basically handbuilt in very very small numbers as a bespoke order.

I don't think there is any chrome in the engine, rather I think it is polished metal. The kit is typical of many where anything with a natural or polished metal surface seems to make it to the chrome tree.

Go to this web site of the museum where the car is. http://citedelautomobile.com/en/home
There were only six royales produced by Bugatti, each with a different body by various coach builders, including Bugatti themselves. There were originally going to be twenty five, but they didn't sell well, as well as WWII started. All six still survive, plus a seventh made from original parts in the same museum as the Coupe Napoleon and Park Ward body royales. You can also google for the Schlumpf obsession to find out some facts about the museum and how they obtained over 120 vintage Bugatti's.
Another website to look at is
http://www.bugattipage.com/
look for the type 41, which was the model designation of the royales.
I've been lucky enough to visit the museum in Mulhouse France and see the 2 royales they have plus the replica made from spares as well as the rest of the collection. It is an impressive collection, and was a 'must do' for me.

Thanks for the info guys. Sounds like the museum was a great place to go. Hope to get a bit more done on it this weekend.

That is a sweet model, but i reckon hot rod it!

Yep i'm with DeeCee Hot Rod it,
it would look cool.

Thought about rodding this but not sure that I've got enough car experience to do it justice. Then stupid me asked the wife what she thought and she said no- leave it as is. She suggested with my fitter and turner training all I was fit to do was turn a good kit into a poor one! So now I'm building it as per the instructions.
I did find this picture on the net somewhere and liked the look of it.

I don't know if they make one but I thought I might be able to pick up a kit of the Veyron and use the engine. drive line, seats and wheels etc on this older chassis and come up with a concept type car turning it into a two seater like Zenrat suggested. Lowered, fat wheels & side pipes? What do you think?

I would build it stock, but that's me, I like old school classis.

WHAT DO I THINK??       DO IT!!!    You dont really need a veyron, pick a ferrari kit or something like that for a donor, they are a dime a dozen, and will give you a wicked driveline and interior, the only thing left is imagination mate.   

Definitely build this one stock...some things should just be left alone 
I also have one of these buried somewhere, so keen to see how it all goes.

Even the biggest Ferrari engine is going to look lost under that mile long bonnet.
I'm putting an Allison V12 in mine...

I turned a straight 6 into a v12 i about an hour.

At this stage I'm going to build it stock. Got the main body together over the weekend and got some paint on but it only highlighted my crap filling and sanding job. Love the Allison V12 idea, I have a V12 from Tyrone Malone's race truck which would fill the bonnet. Might have to look around for another one of these.

Have finally got paint onto all the bits.

As mentioned earlier, used nail polish on this and clear coated with nail polish clear. Should I polish this now and if so, what with? Haven't ever polished a truck model so don't want to stuff up my first car in a lot of years.
Have the motor in and most of the chassis together so once I sort the polish out, it's ready to start putting together (I think).

Great job so far.  
Josh.

Those colours look great Deaf as it;s all coming along nicely   

DeeCee wrote:I turned a straight 6 into a v12 i about an hour.

More cool stuff Dale...I recognized those intakes instantly, I only saw some of those electrical connector pins at work yesterday and wondered what I could do with them............ I know now   

Nice work Deaf as, i have always used Maquires showroom shine and recently switched to Auto Glym resin polish, which is a fine cut and very good polish, getting outstanding results for very little effort. you can get it from Repco or paint shop. 

And TJ, they are pretty expensive mate, bag of 20 could cost you up to $40, if you buy them.  

Now this is cool, I have had 2 of these started for years, turned one into a stock pickup. Come on I think we all want to see more, get it going again.

This is still ticking over albeit slowly. Stripped the kit chrome off the firewall but forgot to repaint it when I did the body. Most of the interior bits are painted so with any luck I'll have something to post up soon.

 

Have finally got all the sub assemblies done so now can start putting it all together.
Only put a bit of detail underneath as most of it won't be seen. Had a go with BMF along the edges of the running boards.
Hopefully this will be done for Tumut. Thanks for looking.

Wow.  That's looking great.  Chrome mudguard beads look very spanky.

   Great work on the BMF , sets the colour nicely.