This 1935 Bugatti Type 59/50s offset seat Grand Prix car is Chassis Number 2 and fitted with Engine Number 8. It was produced by the artisans of Automobiles Bugatti at Molsheim in Alsace from available parts of the period. Only such peripherals as the body paneling and tanks have been remade. This Bugatti is powered by a 4.9 liter straight-eight cylinder twin overhead camshaft power unit that began life as the Type 54 engine, previously used by works backed customer Count Stanislas Czaykowski to smash the World 1-Hour speed record at Berlins AVUS speedway circuit in 1933. The power unit is coupled to an up-rated gearbox deemed necessary to handle the much-enlarged engine’s extra power and torque. The gearbox drives the correct period made type of propeller shaft and gear driven back axle. Many of the components built into this car were concealed in a storeroom at the Molsheim factory in which they had been cached almost certainly just prior to the wartime German invasion.

Design and Features

• Manufacturer: Bugatti.
• Year of Production: 1933-1934.
• Body Style: Open-wheel racing car designed for Grand Prix racing.
• Engine: 3.3-liter (3257 cc) supercharged inline-8 engine.
• Power Output: Approximately 250-280 horsepower.
• Transmission: 4-speed manual gearbox.
• Top Speed: Capable of speeds exceeding 150 mph (240 km/h).
• Suspension: Advanced for its time, featuring independent front suspension with transverse leaf springs and a live rear axle with quarter-elliptic leaf springs.
• Brakes: Cable-operated drum brakes.

Racing Success and Legacy

• Competition History: The Type 59 competed in several prestigious races, including the French Grand Prix and the Monaco Grand Prix.
• Significance: It was an evolution of the successful Type 57G, incorporating improvements in aerodynamics, engine performance, and handling to remain competitive against rivals like Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz.
• Influence: The Type 59 influenced subsequent Bugatti models and set benchmarks in racing technology during its competitive career.

You may purchase a print of the 1935 Bugatti Type 59/50s in our dElegance 2017 online gallery.

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