This is a real journey through time, to an era when the sound of hammers striking wheel hubs echoed and the scent of castor oil filled the air in the streets of Levallois Perret, once the proud stronghold of what was known as the Golden Triangle of the Automobile. Among the pillars of this classic car Golden Age in France was Bernard Pigelet. As a leading automotive engineer, he set up his workshop (called ‘Racing Diffusion’) at 52 Rue Carnot in Levallois-Perret in 1984. Just 150 metres from his home was a taxi depot which, in the late 1980s, was about to close its doors to make way for the construction of a new building. It was at this location that Bernard Pigelet spotted ‘the golden opportunity’ and purchased this particular Etau Bugatti. In need of restoration, the specialist carefully restored it, repainted it, adjusted the bits and preciously stored it in his workshop, where it remained unused. Only the bronze stop between the bench vice and the crank handle was replaced, but the original part is supplied with the bench vice. A test with a folded sheet of paper brilliantly demonstrates the tool's precision and its high-quality design. This is a rare and desirable model from the first series, instantly recognisable by its Bugatti logo, which is less prominent than on later versions. The number 17 is stamped on one of the bits and here's an interesting anecdote: the official Bugatti repair workshop was located at 75 Rue Carnot, only a few steps away from the workshop where it was found!