Swiss Millionaire Gerald Bugnon’s incredible collection of race and sports cars, valued at an estimated £6 million (approximately USD 7.5 Million), will be auctioned on Sunday, April 21, at the French Osenat auction house. The collection includes an Alfa Romeo race boat, as well as eight cars from 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Mr Bugnon, who has a passion for Alfa Romeo, meticulously curated a remarkable collection of Alfa Romeos. Their auction at Osenat will generate a lot of excitement. The passion, perfection, innovation and creativity of each model is evident, whether it’s the 1958 Giulietta TI, the 1965 Alfa Romeo Racer or the 1969 Tipo33/2 Daytona. These rare vintage cars set standards for performance, technological advancements and timeless aesthetics.
Experts and enthusiasts agree that this collection has historical significance for Alfa Romeo. The cars’ glitz and appeal are increased because many have race victories.
Gerald Bugnon’s rare collection of Alfa Romeo sports cars. Image: Osenat.
A vacation to the Val d’Isère ski slopes marked the beginning of the Gérald Bugnon collection. The Bugnon family was passing by an Alfa-Romeo giulietta ti as they approached the railway station. David Bugnon, his father, and their son were fascinated by the sound of this magnificent Italian automobile as it passed them.
David Bugnon explains, “From then on, I never stopped pestering my father to buy an Alfa Romeo. And that’s what he did, buying a Giulietta for himself and a GTV for my mother. He has remained loyal to the brand for many years throughout his professional career.”
Gerald Bugnon, at the age of fifty, decided to start a Giulietta Collection. After purchasing a Spider he then acquired an SS. After studying and learning about Alfa-Romeo’s past, he concentrated on the rarest and most exquisite vehicles as he built his collection. He was involved in many rallies.
David opines, “My father combines two passions: Alfa-Romeos and his friends. When he registered for the historic Monte-Carlo Rally he lined up a few cars which he then lent out to his friends. The Bugnon family has always maintained relations with Alfa Romeo from this, and my grandparents, my parents, myself and now my children have all driven Alfa Romeos.”
In addition, David further explains, “As my father was racing more and more in VHC (historic competition vehicles), he created a team engaged in VHC: Il Biscione Corsa Rossa. And as he didn’t do things by halves, he hired drivers (all ex-Swiss champions) to host the various championships. In these rallies, drivers like Romain Dumas and his dad Maurice or the famous Swiss tightrope walker Olivier Gillet, accompanied by his compatriot and sailor, Steve Ravussin, were able to defend the colours of Il Biscione Corsa Romand, a team he created for participants in the VHC European Rally Championship.”
This demand was also demonstrated by the need to supply spare parts and provide post-race servicing while maintaining the utmost regard for each vehicle’s history. It was clear that the stable of team race cars worked very hard. Olivier Gillet was his mechanic, pilot and right-hand person who handled everything from transportation to administration.
Time To Sell
“But now the time has come to sell the collection. The passion my father has for Alfa Romeos is still there, but in a less intense way. Other activities have prevented us from enjoying and maintaining this amazing collection to its fullest. For this reason, we decided to part with the “historical” part of the collection and keep only the latest cars acquired by the family,” enthuses David.
Alfa Romeo 33
Image: Osenat
The Alfa Romeo 33 represents the brand’s comeback to the top motorsport division. Alfa Romeo ceased all international competitions in 1951. The renowned Disco Volante that was to compete at the 1952 Le Mans 24 Hours never made it onto the racecourse. Alfa Romeo was able to regain competitive success in the early 1960s thanks to the incredible GTA, TZ and TZ2. Alfa Romeo’s achievements will force them to consider competing again internationally. In September 1964, the project 105.33 started. In September 1965 the initial prototype, with a TZ2 engine, was produced. The engineers chose a V8 engine of two litres, which was secretly developed in the 1950s. Alfa Romeo returns to its zenith with the Alfa Romeo 33. The Alfa Romeo was designed to compete in Sports Prototype championships.
(Est. (Est.
Alfa Romeo TZ
Image: Osenat
Alfa Romeo started developing the sports Giulietta’s replacement at the start of the 1960s. The engine of the new Giulia is a 1570 cm3 unit that has been updated significantly for this model year. It now has an aluminium block, cylinder head and other components. Two Weber 40 carburettors can deliver 170 horsepower when used in competition. Zagato is given the bodywork and Ercole spada will be assigned the job after reviewing work done on the SZ coda tronca. This will give a very aerodynamic look. The end product was one of its era’s most incredible race vehicles. Alfa Romeo manufactured 112 vehicles in total. If 100 cars were initially planned, then the production was likely to be 110. The vehicle’s history begins in November 1964 when Alfa Romeo GB Ltd was given a TZ 750071 chassis.
(Est. EUR 800,000-1,000,000
Alfa Romeo SZ Tonda
Image: Osenat
Alfa Romeo’s comeback to the pinnacle of motorsport is symbolized by the 33. In 1960, as a reaction to Bertone’s Sprint Speciale, Zagato introduced the Zagato Sprint. The Sprint Zagato has a sportier look than its rival. With a maximum speed of 200 km/h, the Sprint Zagato’s weight of just 785 kg and around 115 horsepower made it an instant favourite among racers. The Aix-les-Bains dealership sold the specimen to Jean Gonguet brand-new on 16 February 1962. Semi-professional racer who raced for AC Savoie primarily, he took part in the Coupes du Salon and placed seventh in the 1000/1300cm3 class and seventh overall in October 1962.
(Est. EUR 400,000 to 600,000
Alfa Romeo SZ Coda Tronica
Image: Osenat
Ercole spada, the designer who was a part of the project, sat on the ground to keep time and guide the tests. After a few months, the outcome was ready, and Zagato drove the modified SZ to victory at the 1961 Monza Grand Prix, defeating Micheloti’s upgraded SZ in the process. As a result of this success, production began on the second SZ. Mechanically, the second series incorporates all the features from the first SZ. The automobile has lost 15 kilograms and is now 840 kg, instead of 850kg after it was made longer. The upgrades allowed the top speed to comfortably exceed 200 km/h with a slight flirtation at 215 km/h. Zagato’s workshops released the auctioned example on 7th December 1962. The car was delivered on 15 January 1963, by Louwman & Parqui, a Leidschendam-based Dutch importer. This is one the rare chassis that has front disc brakes from the factory.
(Est. EUR600,000-800,000)
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider
Image: Osenat.
Hoffman Motor Cars in New York became Alfa Romeo’s official importer for the United States when it saw the possibility of building a roadster from the Giulietta Sprint. This was at the start of the 1950s. Alfa Romeo worked closely with Hoffman to create a roadster using the Giulietta Sprint’s chassis at the end of the 1953. Rudolf Hruska, the brand’s engineer overseeing the Sprint project, will be responsible for development. The motorised chassis will be ready in a short time. Its number is AR 1495 000. This one’s going to be saved from getting bodied.
Hruska asked Bertone and Pininfarina to build two chassis each. They are responsible for implementing their suggestions for the upcoming “Giulietta Spider.” Chassis 003 and 002 will be sent to Pininfarina, who will use them to create two non-functional stylistic experiments. Following Max Hoffman’s design approval, chassis 0003 was once more transported to Turin to create a working prototype. This vehicle will be auctioned. The chassis will be transported four times between New York, Turin and back to New York for certification after it is re-bodied. Pininfarina beat Bertone to win the contract.
(Est. EUR350,000-450,000)
Alfa Romeo 750 SS
Image: Osenat
Alfa Romeo, Bertone and their brilliant designer Franco Scaglione will create some extraordinary projects. The “Sprint Speciale” was first developed in 1957 as a prototype by the “BAT” (Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica) and “Disco Volante” Projects, and it began to be produced in series in 1959. In 1960, the automobile was modified to comply with American regulations. Around 100 units from the first series (750 SS) were produced to be certified for competition use. This particular series is identified by the “Muso Basso” snout and the lack of bumpers.
The Porto dealership, Portugal, delivered the 48th model, which is now up for auction, brand-new on August 19,59, with registration number OP21-55. Manuel Nogueira Pinto was the original owner. He was a famous Portuguese pilot from the 1960s. As soon as his car arrived, he began competing in several events. In 1959, Vila do Conde, he came in second with the number 11 and entered.
(Est. EUR300,000-350,000)
Alfa Romeo GTA
Image: Osenat
The Giulia Sprint GT’s official competition version, the GTA, debuted in 1965 and was available in racing (corsa) and road (stradale) configurations. The Autodelta factory’s competition section was in charge of the latter. The GTA’s aluminium body panels, Plexiglas side and rear windows, and lightweight interior fixtures set it apart. GTA’s weight is 200 kilograms less than Sprint GT. Alfa’s iconic 1,570 cc twin-cam four-cylinder engine saw significant changes for the GTA. The valve angle has been lowered from 90 degrees to 80 degrees and the valve size has been increased. The twin ignition was chosen because the space between the spark plugs could not be extended. The engine was updated to produce 115 horsepower on the road and 150 horsepower when in racing trim. Andrea de Adamich won the Jolly Club Four-Hour Race at Monza on March 20, 1967.
(Est. EUR180,000-250,000)
Alfa Romeo TI
Image: Osenat
Alfa Romeo considers the Giulietta of 1955 as the brightest spot in an otherwise challenging post-war period for Biscione. The compact, yet sophisticated, four-door sedan’s excellent driving characteristics and affordable finish made it the perfect vehicle for its intended purpose. In 1957, the Tourisme Internationale (TI), edition was launched. The engine was a 1300cc aluminum with double overhead valveshafts. With 65 horsepower it could reach 160 km/h.
The car was a winner in well-known races like the Tour de France Auto and the Mille Miglia. It also won the Monte Carlo. The vehicle we are showcasing was shipped brand-new from France on April 24, 1958, to the brand’s Paris dealership in its current configuration: a Blue Elvezia with houndstooth trim and upholstery. The trace of its origin can be found in the 1970 Haute Garonne registration of 188QF31. It will remain in the Toulouse area until 1990. A Charente Maritime enthusiast purchased it after that and kept it until 2001. When Mr. Bugnon purchased this Giulietta, it needed to be in a better condition.
(Est: EUR25,000-45,000)
Alfa Romeo Race Boats
Image: Osenat.
Angelo Molinari is best known for the outboard motor competition hulls he designed. However, he was also very active in inboard racing classes at the dawn of the 60s, especially the 1300 cm3 category. The yacht that we will show you today was bought by legendary racing driver Michel Barone back in 1971. In 1971, Michel Barone traded in his 1300 cm3 racer for this Racer in order to compete in R2 class. Michel Barone won the 1973 World Championship with this boat, which had an Alfa Romeo engine that was rebored from 1,500 cm3 to 1,500 for the R2 class. The boat has been sitting in storage for about 10 years. It is still in great shape. This boat needs to be re-started and maintained in order to compete again.
(Est. EUR20,000-30,000)