It’s 24 February 1932 – the event is the Rally Paris-St Raphaël Féminin – the woman is Renée Friderich. She is 20 years-old, and today – as her friend & mentor Hellé Nice sets fastest time – she will lose her life at the wheel of this Delage D8-S.
It was a bad accident, perhaps caused by the difference between the Delage and her usual Bugatti. “Usual” because Renée’s father was the great Ernest Friderich – associate, friend of Ettore Bugatti since 1909. Winner of 1920 Coupe des Voiturettes, the famous 1921 Voiturette race at Brescia, the man who debuted the legendary T35, entrant responsible for Dreyfus’ win at Monaco in 1930…
Ernest Friderich was the Bugatti agent in Nice, and therefore the go-to on the Côte d’Azur in this remarkable era.
Today, you could pop in to the Bugatti agent beside the Rascasse in Monaco. Back in 1924 you would have gone to 40 Rue de la Buffa, or latterly 21 Rue de Rivoli.
Visiting 21 Rue de Rivoli, Nice today you will find… a bike shop. Ernest Friderich seems forgotten, and the brand have missed an opportunity to do something special. Perhaps the customer for a new Bugatti in the 21st century just doesn’t care?
Nice was once the epicentre of automotive sport & luxury – legendary brands; created & represented by interesting men, inspired by their daughters.
We dreamers will keep that memory – until the marketing bods realise that it’s a sizzle worth selling.
