This is a real journey through time, to an era when the sound of hammers striking wheel hubs echoed and the scent of castor oil filled the air in the streets of Levallois Perret, once the proud stronghold of what was known as the Golden Triangle of the Automobile.

Among the pillars of this classic car Golden Age in France was Bernard Pigelet.

As a leading automotive engineer, he set up his workshop (called ‘Racing Diffusion’) at 52 Rue Carnot in Levallois-Perret in 1984.

Just 150 metres from his home was a taxi depot which, in the late 1980s, was about to close its doors to make way for the construction of a new building.

It was at this location that Bernard Pigelet spotted ‘the golden opportunity’ and purchased this particular Etau Bugatti.

In need of restoration, the specialist carefully restored it, repainted it, adjusted the bits and preciously stored it in his workshop, where it remained unused.

Only the bronze stop between the bench vice and the crank handle was replaced, b...