After the First World War and into the ’20s, many car manufacturers throughout Europe became involved in Grand Prix racing. They believed that advertising, prestige and development were in their interest and they were right. Demand for the motorcar began to increase. Most of these companies ran “Works Teams.” They employed the people who they believed to be the winning drivers, designers and engineers. Of the drivers, some were so-called “professionals,” selling, demonstrating and developing cars, while there were others who were well able to afford to pay for their own motorsport activities. It was this that fueled the careers from the ’20s into the ’30s of the great drivers. Antonio Ascari, Caracciola, Farina, Nuvolari and Varzi were just a few of the great names whose association and success with, say one Type 35 Bugatti over another similar car, increased that particular car’s value. It assisted the market and specific demand for the model. Stardom has continued to attract sales even in the present day—an ex-Fangio, Moss, Senna, Prost or Brabham car is always worth a few bucks more!
