DFW Elite Toy Museum Displays Work of Unidentified Model Maker
June 30, 2009 – Fort Worth, TX – The miniature 1932 Bugatti Royale is flawless, from the ski-jump fenders to the letterbox windows, and from the lustrous burgundy paint to the rigorously detailed engine. Collected by the legendary Count Antonio Giansanti Coluzzi, late owner of what the New York Times called “the world’s greatest toy and model train collection”, this handcrafted masterpiece was acquired by DFW Elite Toy Museum owner Ron Sturgeon in 1990.
“Unfortunately, the Count did not know the identity of the maker,” says Sturgeon, who also bought a one-quarter scale Fiat roadster for the museum as part of the deal. “With the Fiat, we got a wonderful letter from the model maker’s grandson and established the provenance. We’re hoping we can do the same for this little beauty.”
And a beauty she is, with a working ragtop complete to the grommets and a female driver in black skirt and high heels. Appropriate for a car that in the ‘30s was the most prestigious and powerful automobile on the road. The Bugatti Royale Type 41 was made from 1926 to 1933.
The signature on this piece is “A. Petit 69” and the maker of this car may be BMFA Scale Nationals competitor Andre Petit, a maker of fine airplane models. Should anyone know how to contact him or know more about this model car, please e-mail museum curator Rodney Ross at rodneyr@rdsinvestments.com. The Bugatti Royale is on display at DFW Elite Toy Museum and online at DFW Elite Toy Museum.com.
To view the actual model, visit the Toy Museum inside DFW Elite Auto Rental at 5940 Eden in Fort Worth, TX. Hours are 8-6 Monday through Friday, weekends by appointment. In Fort Worth call 817-838-RENT (7368); in Dallas call 214-247-4700.
Cutline: Signed toy Bugatti once owned by Count Antonio Giansanti Coluzzi, now at DFW Elite Toy Museum. (Photo Credit R. Ross, Fort Worth, TX.)
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