Isadora Duncan - killed by a Bugatti? | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Isadora Duncan - killed by a Bugatti?

Discussion in 'Bugatti' started by James_Woods, Apr 13, 2012.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. WilyB

    WilyB F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 23, 2007
    4,104
    AZ
    Notice of her death,New York Times.

    Copyright © New York Times, Sep 15, 1927
     
  2. tritone

    tritone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 8, 2003
    6,864
    On the Rock
    Full Name:
    James
    Quote:
    ............. an open rented car...........before the chauffeur halted...........

    Copyright © New York Times, Sep 15, 1927



    Still seems to be an open question; no suggestion of car type or boyfriend.......
    Typical media sloth even in 1927?
     
  3. Far Out

    Far Out F1 Veteran

    Feb 18, 2007
    9,768
    Stuttgart, Germany
    Full Name:
    Florian
    Her nack snapped, she was killed instantly ... and then cried while being dragged over the street?

    A horrible death, anyway :(
     
  4. dbw

    dbw Formula Junior

    Apr 3, 2005
    897
    palo alto ca
    Full Name:
    dave
    here's a late comment....as a ex-owner of both a t37 bugatti and a cgss amilcar, i can assure you they do look a bit the same..both have open bodywork and knock-off wire wheels [the 37 would not have had paddle spoke wheels] so each have an eared knockoff center cap. the most reasonable theory is that it was an amilcar for no better reason than there were more amilcars made [and most likely actually running and driveable at the time]..the amilcar was even then known as "the poor mans bugatti" and i'm sure most average citizens would err on the side of thinking they saw a bug... kind of like " the dog was struck by a loud, fast, red low car with big round tail lights..i think it was a ferrari."..actually it most likely was a newer corvette.
     
  5. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

    May 17, 2006
    12,755
    Dallas, Tx.
    Full Name:
    James K. Woods
    It is indeed rather strange that this seems to be lost to history.
     
  6. WilyB

    WilyB F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 23, 2007
    4,104
    AZ
    This is what I found, posted by J.J.Horst [ Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:42 am ] here: http://www.bugattibuilder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5329&start=0&view=print

    It is very detailled and fits with everything else I read, including the nickname of the driver. It also explains the confusion between the Amilcar and the Bugatti.

     
  7. dmj

    dmj Formula Junior

    Feb 11, 2012
    289
    Zagreb, Croatia
    Full Name:
    Dino Milic-Jakovlic
    Accuracy of details might be doubtful, I'm afraid, just like at all the other sources. Maserati built its first car just a year ago and I sincerely doubt that any customer might have one in autumn 1927. in Nice already...
     
  8. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

    May 17, 2006
    12,755
    Dallas, Tx.
    Full Name:
    James K. Woods
    I do not understand the Maserati reference, but thanks for bringing this rather romantic thread back up to the surface.
     
  9. JazzyO

    JazzyO F1 World Champ

    Jan 14, 2007
    12,143
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Onno
    You don't know much about Maserati. In fact, every single thing you say is incorrect. The company was founded by the Maserati brothers in 1914, and then later sold to Orsi who made it into a success as a roadcar manufacturer. It was very succesful in particularly voiturrette racing in the 1920's. A Maserati won the Targa Florio in 1926. Maserati has produced very significant racing cars in the 1920's, '30s, '40s and '50s, with decline for race success setting in in the early 1960's.

    So perhaps, before attacking others on their story, perhaps you should do some research on your own.


    Onno

    P.S. Don't take my word for it, but take Alain de Cadenet's - a former LeMans podium finisher.

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqFy8QtyJIg[/ame]
     
  10. dmj

    dmj Formula Junior

    Feb 11, 2012
    289
    Zagreb, Croatia
    Full Name:
    Dino Milic-Jakovlic
    Please don't accuse people if you are the one don't know the facts. Maserati brothers opened their garage in 1914. but first car bearing their name was produced only in 1926.

    Isadora Duncan's death was in September 1927. Up to the end of 1927. only seven Maserati cars have been built, chassis 11 to 18 (17 probably skipped as that number is considered unlucky in Italy). Six of them were in Italy, one in Spain. Nice isn't far away from Italy, of course but probability of having a Maserati serviced in local garage in France at that time seems really low. Also note that all Maseratis at that point were strictly race cars and it even lessens the possibility of one being serviced at non-specialized garage in a country where no vehicle of such type wasn't even imported yet.

    This particular article cited by Mr. Horst fully matches my own theories about how the death happened. But, at least without naming the sources for those claims (and site he posted it from doesn't exist anymore so it can not be checked) this has also to remain just one of the theories. Nothing more, nothing less.

    Dino
     
  11. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

    May 17, 2006
    12,755
    Dallas, Tx.
    Full Name:
    James K. Woods
    I still do not understand how we somehow got sidetracked onto Maserati.

    I have become convinced that it was most probably an Amilcar, but the romantic tradition insisted on the Bugatti.
     

Share This Page