Bugatti introduced the Type 46 at the end of 1929, and it remained in production until 1933, by which time 468 chassis had been manufactured.

It was a large and imposing luxury chassis, weighing in at 1,134 kilograms and powered by a powerful 5.4-litre straight-eight engine that was more than up to the task.

Abundant torque insured the kind of top gear flexibility for which Bugattis were famous.

Customers received the best of both worlds: a superior conveyance that provided supple motoring at grand touring car level, with the exceptional road manners for which the Molsheim marque had become justly famous.

Small wonder then that Bugatti achieved well over 400 sales despite the car’s introduction coinciding with the Great Depression.

Some called the Type 46 “La Petite Royale” in reference to the titanic Bugatti Type 41; the moniker aptly captured the essence of this expansive chassis and the grand bodies with which it was fitted.

This was reflected in an enthusiastic review in the ...