The Argentinean firm of Pur Sang builds not just replicas—a word with almost a pejorative context in the automotive space—but what might be termed tool-room copies of vintage Bugattis and Alfa Romeos, with every detail of the original cars faithfully copied, using exacting handcraftsmanship and engineering that is equal to the originals in every important sense. They are best-known for their Bugatti Type 35, which is nearly identical to, and has the same performance, exhaust note, and thrilling driving characteristics as one of the Molsheim-built cars that were the winningest in the world in the late 1920s. In fact, to this day the Type 35 remains the most successful outright competition automobile ever produced in number of total wins.

The Bugatti Type 35B Recreation by Pur Sang offered here was completed in October 1997, according to a statement from Pur Sang included in the file. The same paperwork notes that the car was eventually fully reconditioned by the company to as-new condition, and then sold by them to the Dare to Dream Collection in November 2015. Improvements made for the Collection by Pur Sang included an improved firing order and plane-bearing crank upgrade; fitment of an electric radiator fan, modern oil filter, electric starter, and electric fuel pump; straight exhaust with no mufflers (fun!); and road equipment including Marchal headlights, Scintilla taillights, cycle-style fenders, a Brooklands-type windscreen for the driver, and a rear-view mirror. The bodywork was finished in gloss black, with black leather interior, sill guards, and gearbox guards, for an unusually menacing appearance.

Today the car remains in excellent overall condition, and in addition to the aforementioned documents is accompanied by a collection of build photographs.

Legendary automotive writer Ken Purdy wrote of the original Type 35 that “there is about a Bugatti a sensitivity to control, loveliness, a willingness to work that seems to endow the car with life, a being of its own. The Type 35 had these virtues in the highest degree…The sound of a 35 being fired up is a mad symphony. One advanced Bugattiste made a ten-minute recording of it. ‘Let this be the last thing I hear before I die,’ he said.” This example evokes the same emotion.