September 2022 Current owner unknown after sale by Auction. Gone to Germany.
Original Owner 1986/87 built for Ben Trumble claimed by Brightwells Auctioneers to be the 4th T59 made. Trumble ownership confirmed by V5, followed by Julian Carter, who owned it from 1990 up to sale.
Teal Type 59 in repose T59 no. 4 Pictured in 1990
T59 No 4 – Jaguar straight six 4.2litre Build photo.
see other info on the Type 59 page
Teal type 59, currently (June 2022)for sale via Brightwells
See following text.
1971 Teal Bugatti Type 59 Replica
Number 4 of only 13 professionally built by Teal; aluminium body; Jaguar 4.2 engine and overdrive gearbox; current owner 31 years; registered as a Historic Vehicle; very nice; very quick!
Ettore Bugatti’s 1934 Type 59 has already passed into legend as one of the most revered Grand Prix cars of all time. However, only six were made and the last time one came up for auction a couple of years ago it made over £9.5m so most of us are unlikely to own one any time soon.
For the many who yearn for the early Molsheim cars, a replica is the only conceivable option which is why Ian Foster, a former chassis designer for Daimler, set up Thistledown Engineering Automotive Ltd in 1983. Better known as Teal, they specialised in producing replicas of the Bugatti Type 35 with Morris Marina running gear and GRP bodies.
In 1986 a former AA patrolman called Bob Jones bought Teal from Foster and decided to step things up a gear, adding a new flagship model to the range as an homage to the Bugatti Type 59. He came up with a new steel box section chassis of great strength and rigidity clothed in a hand-made aluminium body and powered by a Jaguar twin-cam XK engine (either 3.8 or 4.2) and a four-speed manual gearbox.
Not to be confused with a kit car, the Type 59 was entirely built by Teal and only 13 were made in total between 1989 and 1995 by which time it cost £28,000 – almost double the average price of a new car at the time.
Our vendor, a passionate Jaguar collector, bought this Type 59 in May 1991 to join a collection of fine cars. It is fitted with a fully rebuilt Jaguar 4.2 engine and, bearing in mind an all-up weight of just 17cwt, is said to be very quick indeed with a top speed of over 140mph if you feel brave enough!
Features include a 4-speed overdrive gearbox, twin rear-mounted fuel tanks, red leather seats and a very business-like milled aluminium dashboard. The suspension is independent all-round and it has vented disc brakes at the front with drum brakes at the rear. It rides on painted 18-inch centre-lock 60-spoke wire wheels shod with Dunlop Racing tyres.
Apart from the odd gentle road rally and a few fun runs up Prescott and Shelsley Walsh, it has been very little used, spending most of its time tucked up within the collection. We are told that it has been started and run regularly to keep everything free and it has certainly been starting easily and running well as we have moved it around on site, with good 45psi oil pressure.
The V5C records it as a GPB Type 59, declared manufactured in 1971 and first registered in October 1990 which is presumably when it was built, being the 4th of the 13 made in total. Classed as a Historic Vehicle, it is free to tax and is now MOT exempt, the last MOT having expired in October 2012 with no advisories recorded.
In super condition throughout and looking every inch the pre-war Grand Prix car, this must be one of the most exciting road cars out there and will turn heads wherever it goes.
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com
Reg No: MRN858J
Chassis Number: 1L14537BW
Engine Number: 7L56699S
Engine Size: 4235
Docs: V5C; older V5; two old MOTs; few invoices
Sale Section & Buyers Premium (ex VAT): Car 12%, Minimum £150
Estimate: £25,000-30,000
sold to Germany at £46700 plus fees. Buyer believed to be willing to pay up to £60K plus.
Last Updated on 1 year by Admin
