Bugatti Type 35

The **Bugatti Type 35** is an iconic race car design produced by Bugatti at their Molsheim premises between 1924 and 1930. It was extremely successful when raced by the factory works team. It was also bought by a diverse roster of privateer clientele from around the world. It pioneered the concept of a holistically conceived, race-ready car available for purchase.

The arch/egg-shaped radiator is emblematic, as is the rear of the car. The tapered stern has been called a 'Bordino tail' and Ettore Bugatti may have been influenced by the shape of the earlier Fiat 804 driven and modified by Pietro Bordino. The car has also become synonymous with being the first to use cast alloy wheels.

The Type 35 was phenomenally successful, winning over 1,000 races in its time. It took the Grand Prix World Championship in 1926 after winning 351 races and setting 47 records in the two prior years. At its height the Type 35 averaged 14 race wins per week. Bugatti won the Targa Florio for five consecutive years, from 1925 through 1929, with the Type 35.

The Bugatti Type 35 was continually being modified and improved upon, but broadly falls into the following nomenclature:

## Finesse and Elegance

Even beyond its racing victories, the Bugatti Type 35 quickly achieved resounding success among the public thanks to "the finesse and elegance of its design",12​·16​·15​ reflected in details such as its aluminum radiator. chrome rim or its nickel-plated controls.17​ Converted into a two-seater after Grand Prix regulations required the presence of a mechanic next to the driver, the Type 35 is particularly recognizable, even today, thanks to its wheels with rubber rims. cast aluminum with eight flat spokes, lighter and more efficiently cooled than classic wire-spoke wheels;18​ and designed to prevent dislodgement in the event of a puncture.19​ The brake drums were operated by Bowden cable, an innovation considerable at that time,12·19​ which offered, among others, the advantage in competition of being able to easily inspect the condition of the brake drums when replacing the wheels.19​ The Type 35 is also recognizable by its wind deflector arranged only for the driver (the mechanic being excluded from protection against the wind), as well as by the pronounced positive camber angle of its front wheels. Driver and mechanic, on the other hand, were seated at a certain height, facing a machined aluminum dashboard and a wooden steering wheel with four metal spokes.

The engine, although derived from that used in the Bugatti Type 30 and Type 32, was also innovative. It was still an 8-cylinder in-line atmospheric engine, the result of aligning two 4-cylinder aluminum blocks (the widespread use of light materials such as aluminum provided "excellent mass distribution"18​ and a contained weight of approximately only 750 kg) with a displacement of 1991 cm3 (diameter of 60 mm and stroke of 88 mm). Fed by two Zenith or Solex carburetors, the maximum power developed was 100 ch at 5000 rpm. Distribution was carried out by a simple overhead camshaft operating three valves (two intake and one exhaust)19​ per cylinder. The crankshaft was removable, with five support points (compared to the three previously used), making pressure lubrication unnecessary.19​ The connecting rods mounted bearings based on ball bearings12​ to achieve a higher engine rotation speed, until reaching 6000 rpm, a "considerable" value for the time. Associated with a 4-speed non-synchronized gearbox with the lever placed outside the cabin (as in all grand prix cars of the 1920s), this engine reaches a maximum speed of 184 km/h.

Unlike the engine, the chassis and body were completely new. The side members were sized with a variable section depending on the forces supported, which contributed to optimizing the weight of the vehicle.​ The front axle, made up of a single piece, is "a work of art": completely polished​ "it is a realization of the forging masters of Molsheim, which constitutes a true technical feat."1 Its lightness, related to its hollow structure, reduces the unsprung mass. The front suspension was resolved using semi-elliptic springs, while quarter-elliptic springs were used on the rear axle.

All these technical features provided excellent road handling for the Type 35, despite its high ground clearance. Its ability to negotiate curves at high speed and its maneuverability were also some of its most valued characteristics.​ The Type 35 was a rear-wheel drive, and its driver had to be careful not to accelerate suddenly to avoid uncontrolled drift. the back. It was also known for its reliability, as Bugatti generally chose to "search for the best materials all over the world": for example, the steel used for the Type 35 came from the Sheffield foundries in England. .