Royal Craftsmanship - Long before today’s automotive giants began blending performance with elegance, a few legendary names had already perfected that rare harmony between art and engineering. Bugatti—a marque synonymous with beauty and innovation—cemented its legacy not only through race-winning machines but also through elegant, custom-built creations designed for royalty and the elite. We previously explored the Bugatti Brown, a remarkable model crafted by the Anglo-French artist James-Jacques Brown.
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1939
Bugatti 57C Shah of Iran was a two-seater cabriolet of substantial proportion and extravagant art-deco styles, is commissioned by French government as a wedding gift to the
Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the soon-to-be Shah of Iran at the time. (Picture from: Tehran Times) |

Bugatti’s legacy started in 1909 with the vision of Ettore Bugatti, an Italian-born designer who founded the company in Molsheim, then part of the German Empire. Over the decades, Bugatti produced vehicles that dazzled both the racing circuits and the boulevards of Europe. From the nimble Type 35 that dominated Grand Prix tracks, to the opulent Type 41 “Royale” reserved for heads of state, Bugatti consistently merged technical brilliance with artistic flair. One of its most celebrated platforms, the Type 57, served as the canvas for many coachbuilders, each commissioned to sculpt metal into rolling masterpieces for wealthy patrons.
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1939 Bugatti 57C Shah of Iran is bodied by the Carrosserie Vanvooren of Paris in the Figoni et Falaschi bodywork dramatic style. (Picture from: Supercars) |
But unlike most Bugattis, which were privately ordered, the 1939 Bugatti 57C Shah of Iran was born from a political gesture. At the time, Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was engaged to marry Princess Fawzia of Egypt, an event seen as a pivotal diplomatic union between two powerful Middle Eastern nations. Sensing the importance of the moment—and perhaps an opportunity to showcase French craftsmanship on a global stage—the French government commissioned the car as an official wedding gift for the young prince. This wasn't merely a luxury vehicle; it was a diplomatic envoy forged in steel, leather, and chrome.
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1939 Bugatti 57C Shah of Iran has several unusual features such a very short windscreen which could be wound down into the bulkhead and a disappearing top which was concealed by a panel behind the interior. (Picture from: Pinterest) |
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1939 Bugatti 57C Shah of Iran uses a 324 cc supercharger Bugatti's engine able to spew an impressive power of 175 horsepower. (Picture from: FavCars.com) |
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The magnificent 1939 Bugatti Type 57C was given to the Shah of Iran as a wedding present and now resides in the Petersen Museum. (Picture from: RevInstitute) |
Salvation came in the form of a meticulous restoration carried out in England by Rod Jolly Coachbuilding and Bugatti specialist Louis Giron. They restored the vehicle to its original grandeur, preserving not only its design but also a subtle touch of its past—an Iranian license plate hinting at its royal provenance. The restoration was so successful that the car was later auctioned for an impressive $1.76 million, a fitting price for a vehicle that had survived neglect, modification, and the passage of time.

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