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July 16, 2009 6:47 a.m. John Brown MegaDork

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=152809#2

Edmunds said:
ASCONA, Switzerland — As crowd-pleasing rescues go, this one was stupendous. A 1925 Bugatti Brescia was pulled up from its resting place some 160 feet below the surface of Lake Maggiore, just north of the Italian border in Switzerland, and hauled onto shore. In time-honored Swiss-Italian style, the natives and a fair number of vintage-Bugatti fans celebrated the event with a party involving music and food.

The rescue on Sunday, June 12, was carried out by a local marine salvage firm with the help of many volunteer helpers. The car had been in the lake since the 1960s, where it reportedly was sunk after a purchaser didn't pay the required import duties on it. The rusty remains of the car will be restored, and the car will then be sold, with proceeds going to the Damiano Tamagni Foundation, a juvenile-delinquency prevention program in the region, local media report.
July 16, 2009 6:53 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork

'bout the same size as the Hunley.
July 16, 2009 7:18 a.m. NYG95GA SuperDork

I've heard of barn finds, but pond finds?
July 16, 2009 7:41 a.m. RossD Reader

Pond find? ... Ohhhhh even more elusive...
July 16, 2009 7:59 a.m. Carrera30 New Reader

RossD wrote: Pond find?

That's what I thought when I saw this ad:

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/1271202438.html
July 16, 2009 8:21 a.m. NOHOME New Reader

Looks more lie it was stolen and strpped for parts.

Honestly, can anyone believe that a single part of that hulk can be re-used in a re-incarnation? There is no engine or transmision that I can see.

I do realize that as long as there is a serial number, a car can be built around it and retain its aura of being a true bugatti.

Someone is going to pay a lot of money for a car with a lot of great workmanship and zero buggatti content.
July 16, 2009 10:25 a.m. gblawson New Reader

Haha...I've seen rubber bumpered MGBs in worse shape and brought back to concours!!!!
July 16, 2009 10:57 a.m. mad_machine UltraDork

looks in relativly good shape for being parked at the bottem of a lake for almost 50 years.

And here I thought the Swiss were at the vangard of the enviromental movement?
July 16, 2009 10:58 a.m. Strizzo Dork

hey! i've been to that lake! on the italian side though. our friends own this place in Lesa: anticomaniero.com
July 16, 2009 7:03 p.m. aussiesmg Dork

Pulled a few soggy stolen cars out of lakes and rivers in my day downunder, never found a Bugatti though
July 16, 2009 7:10 p.m. NYG95GA SuperDork

914Driver wrote:

'bout the same size as the Hunley.

An obscure reference, but I get it.
July 16, 2009 7:15 p.m. Stealthtercel New Reader

To follow up what NOHOME said, a couple of decades ago I believe there was a guy in Toronto who restored, or paid for the restoration of, a Mercedes 540K. Shortly after it was finished (and I hear it was fabulous), it burned down to its wheels. He started over.
July 16, 2009 7:56 p.m. gamby UberDork

That can be restored?!

BTW--I have a fairly neat contribution to Ran When Parked (assuming the same car hasn't already been published). To whom do I send it???
July 16, 2009 8:10 p.m. ncjay Reader

This makes me wonder how much machinery is currently residing at the bottom of the Hudson. Also, who knew that car was down there and where it was?
July 16, 2009 8:14 p.m. JoeyM New Reader

NYG95GA wrote:

914Driver wrote:

'bout the same size as the Hunley.

An obscure reference, but I get it.

odd....I got it, too, but didn't think that comparing a submerged vehicle to the hunley was obscure.
July 16, 2009 8:32 p.m. mel_horn HalfDork

914Driver wrote:

'bout the same size as the Hunley.

or:

"OK, who's the U-boat commander?"
July 16, 2009 8:45 p.m. rob_lewis Dork

16 posts and nobody said:

"That'll buff out" ? Bunch of slackers!!

I never understood how you would consider whatever this becomes as being "restored". Why is rebuilding a body around a serial number considered OK, but if somebody did the same thing (aka kit car) without it, it's frowned upon.

OR, How it's illegal for me to buy a rusted out Mini and transfer the serial number to a more modern one (I'm talking before BMW took over), but this is OK?

Is my example "taboo" because I didn't do enough metal work? How many man hours of metal work does it require to become legal?

-Rob
July 16, 2009 9:18 p.m. TJ Reader

mad_machine wrote:

looks in relativly good shape for being parked at the bottem of a lake for almost 50 years.

And here I thought the Swiss were at the vangard of the enviromental movement?

Maybe in that lake at 160 feet there isn't that much oxygen.

Unless they trapped some men inside when they sank her, I don't think it compares to the Hunley.
July 16, 2009 9:40 p.m. NOHOME New Reader

And to prove that I know about what I speak, here is an example of a similar level of restoration that I am working on. Just hold the key where you think it belongs and build a car around it...

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2203663

Sadly, the results of my efforts will be worth a few thousand $$$ compared to some sucker that will pay a million for the recreated result of that hulk. Note how the marketing strategy has already started by creating an ambiance where the car was dumped in the lake because of tax reasons. How Romeo and Juliet! Note the media presence and internet exposure.

Reality is it was probably pushed in by the owner cause it was as reliable as a 70's Jag and he wanted to claim the insurance!

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