Posted April 23, 2010 Goodwood (GB)
Up until 1934, there was a separate Bugatti model for almost every body type. To cut costs Ettore Bugatti decided to design one chassis that would be available with various body styles. Most of them were to be designed and constructed in the Bugatti factory.
Ettore's son, Jean Bugatti, was put in charge of the new model's design team. He was just 23 years old when the Type 57 project started in 1932.
Extremely expensive models such as the Type 41 Royale and the Type 50 had not been a success for Bugatti.
With that kept in mind, Jean Bugatti designed a much smaller engine for the Type 57 than found in the Type 50 it replaced.
The prototype engine displaced 2.8 liters, which was about half that of Type 50's.
The new engine was equipped with double overhead camshafts, similar in construction to those found on the Type 50 and Type 59 racer.
The production engine displaced just under 3.3 liters and produced 135 horsepower in naturally aspirated form.
In the first models, the engine was directly bolted onto chassis, which added to the rigidity of the ladder frame.
A second series was introduced in 1936 that featured a strengthened chassis because the engine was now mounted on rubber bushings.
When Ettore Bugatti saw the prototype's independent front suspension, he immediately ordered the installation of a solid axle, which was used in every other production Bugatti.
Friction dampers were fitted on the first batch of cars; later models were fitted with telescopic shock absorbers.
At its launch, four body types were available for the Type 57.
Three of these were named after mountain peaks in the Alps; the four-seater, two-door Ventoux; the four-door Galibier; and the two-door Stelvio convertible.
Unlike the other bodies, the Stelvio body type was designed and built by French coach-builder Gangloff.
The fourth body was dubbed Atalante and was the two-seater coupe variant.
With a price twice as high as that of the least expensive Type 57, the Atalante was the most exclusive body of the lot.
Its characteristic features were the 'kidney shaped' side windows and the split rear window.
For the sportier clients, two improvements were added to the Type 57 line-up in 1936.
First off was the addition of a supercharger that boosted the power to 160 horsepower from 135.
Secondly, a shorter and lower S variant was launched, equipped with more-powerful versions of the naturally aspirated and supercharged engines.
Production of the S lasted just three years, but the regular'Type 57 and 57 C lasted up until the outbreak of the Second World War.
In total, 546 Type 57s and 96 57Cs were built.
This Type 57 was built specifically for Col. G. M. Giles, the founder of the British Bugatti club. For the 1935 Tourist Trophy at Dundrod, he had the car fitted with a high-compression engine that reportedly produced 148 horsepower.
Giles collected the car, his 10th Bugatti, at the factory in Molsheim.
Despite being a bare chassis only with no body whatsoever, he drove it back to England on public roads.
The Type 57 TT was subsequently fitted with a Tourer body by Bertelli of Feltham following a design of Col.
Giles' brother, Eric.
Affectionately known as Terese, the car was driven to an impressive third overall and second in class at the TT by another great Bugatti aficionado, Earl Howe. Col. Giles held onto the unique TT Bugatti until 1939.
and it has since changed hands only twice.
The last time was in 2004 when the owner of 50 years consigned it to Bonhams for its annual Goodwood Festival of Speed auction.
Still in very original condition, chassis 57316 sold for an impressive £430,500.
The car has since been shown at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed and a few months later at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, celebrating Bugatti's centenary at both occasions.
It will be out again this year for the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.
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