The Bugatti T251 coming out of the factory gates. Dale LaFollette just finds the neatest photos.
Despite today’s total digital imagery, Dale LaFollette of Vintage Motorphoto is not going to allow irreplaceable and possibly priceless works of automotive art go away quietly. He’s been buying vintage photos now for 25 years, and since 1995 has run a gallery devoted to the collection and sale of pre digital racing and automotive images.
Dale defines a ‘vintage’ photo as one which
a) was taken years ago and
b) which was developed at or around the same time it was taken.
In other words, a photo of a 1927 Alfa 6C1500 would have been taken in the 1920s or 30s and developed and printed in the same era, either for a magazine or private use.
May 21st 1955, an A.D.P. photo of a 4CV in front of the Hotel de Ville in Paris.
Why? Original negatives of that Alfa can still be used to recreate a new print. But it will not be exactly the same, the materials, technique, art, chemicals, will not be as they were seventy, fifty or even ten years ago. Think in terms of a Cameron Millar 250F Maserati–close but no cigar.
And like beachfront property and Ferrari 250GTOs, supply is limited. What Dale offers may not be in all cases the only print made from a particular negative, but he has only one of what he has. In other words, if you see a photo for sale in his gallery or online store, there is only one copy available. You probably won’t get a second chance to own that print again, at least anytime soon. Secondly, buying vintage prints is a pretty good investment, particularly if you have a sharp eye and learn to spot great photography. Since Dale usually only has one print available, some, or perhaps all, of the images we have used here for groupings may no longer be available when you click on the photo. But get on the site and shop around, Dale always has new items coming in. And note that the photographs herein may or may not be available, so check his website before getting your hopes up!
Another 4CV misfortune. Credit France Soir Scoop.
But what to do with old photos? Don’t they just sit around gathering dust between the covers of a photo album? Not always. Dale suggested grouping, a good way to collect, and display them. We went to his online store and within a couple of minutes found the following photos available now that would be a nice grouping in terms of cars and drivers.
1926 Peugeot 18 CV sport with a Weymann body that perhaps ran at Le Mans that year.
2 cars were built. Do any readers have any further information?
We asked Raffi Minasian, a teacher and freelance designer who coincidentally owns a Giaur. Minasian spent several years in the art production world licensing art for uses in home decorative items and as framed artwork, plus he’s a convicted car nut. “What I would do is to create a series or subscription collection themed as year, race track, or car class – Great Race Cars of 1967 (pick boomer years for best sales). It makes a a great ‘book of the month’ club type of gift for someone born in 1967. Every month they get a photo of an interesting car from that year and a bio page that goes with it. A nice folio case would hold all twelve. could be monthly subscription paid on credit card or with three payments for greater ease.
This snapshot take from a scrapbook...the Exner Bugatti in a driveway...
In today’s world, scenes with women drivers are becoming common. This outstanding photo could be the start of a collection of women race drivers.
Dale also has a few ideas on framing. With black and white photos, he suggests using a pewter or silver frame rather than black or colored. Wood frames give off hazmat as they decompose affecting the paper negatively (pardon the pun).
Conversely, collecting rare color prints of the fifties and sixties is another way to group motor racing images. Since color was not widely used by the magazines in that era, very few photographers used colored film, even though it was available. Yet colored prints bring new life to old eras, and these prints can be found dating as far back as the 1930s.
Dale’s Vintage Motorphoto is easy to surf and arranged by Auto Racing in four timeframes, Auto Racing autographs, Auto Racing programs etc, so there is much more than just photographs to choose from.
Dear Veloce
Yes, you can always count on Dale to come up with rare
and desirable vintage racing photographs, such as the new T. 251 Bugatti.
The car made its only race appearence in the 1956 French Grand Prix and
miserable failure,,a shame when you consider the proud name, I was fan
since seeing the ultra modern Atlantic coupe at repair shop in summer of 1949,,!
Finally visited the Bugatti factory in 1957 but seems I arrived 20 years too late.
Jim Sitz
G.P., Oregon
Re the Peugeots at Le Mans in ’26, for what it’s worth, there were two pictured in the official Moity/Teissedre/Bienvenu book, but they were 174S Models, convertibles that don’t seem to resemble the “18 CV Sport” shown here. TC
This photo appeared in Road & Track, January 2006. The car being “attacked” by the 4CV Renault is a Bugatti Type 57 with the factory “Ventoux” coachwork.
Tim,
I totally agree with you, while I found evidence that that this car competed in the la Turbie hill climb I am positive that it did not run at le Mans.
George,
Yes, I supplied R&T with quite a few photos for their back page and they used this one. Good catch!