100 years of car history and 2500 victories

2024 is a very special anniversary for Bugatti: the 100th anniversary of its most famous car, the Type 35. Looking back at the features that made this machine, with more than 2,500 race victories, unprecedented in history.

To understand the Bugatti Type 35, which revolutionized racing cars with its key technical innovations from 1924, you must first understand its creator, Ettore Bugatti.

Coming from a family steeped in art, creativity and innovation, Bugatti had many interests and deep knowledge. But although he did many projects before creating the Type 35, he never trained as an engineer.

For the Type 35, it can be seen that its unique ride was more of an advantage than a limitation. If Ettore had been trained in traditional automotive engineering, he would not have dared to push the limits set so hard by the Type 35, and the design and creativity shown by this classic model would certainly not have been seen before.

The first car in the world designed for rotation

“The Bugatti Type 35 was the first car in the world designed specifically, in its design and engineering, for the circuit”, he announced Luigi Galli, heritage specialist and certification at Bugatti.

“Unlike anything the motoring world had seen before, and although it also presented itself as a touring car, it was not a road car modified for racing. »

Ettore Bugatti’s meticulous approach to overall design, and the attention he paid to every detail, redefined the world of motor racing in terms of design, technique, materials, handling and performance. »

“The Bugatti Type 35 gave birth to the era of Grand Prix cars and forced other manufacturers to rethink their strategy. »

Where other cars featured high ground clearance, the body of the Type 35 was compact and compact. Where others had wire wheels, the Type 35 sat on cast alloys, to reduce unsprung mass, while its brake drums were mounted in an equally revolutionary way.

Finally, where other models had exposed rear suspension, the Type 35 featured a suspension set within its ellipsoidal alloy structure. This pioneering method helped reduce drag.

Under the body, 2.0-liter 8-cylinder

Under the skin, the Type 35 debuted with a thin-walled 2.0-liter 24-valve inline-8, which was later boosted to 2.3 liters and supercharged.

The use of an aluminum crankshaft supported by two roller bearings and three ball bearings allows the engine to rev up to 6000 rpm and develop up to 90 horses.

Among other innovations: a new front axle with sealed ends. Unlike conventional types, it was not “straight” but curved in the middle to turn the chassis, and raised at the ends to connect with the wheel arches.

This design made it possible to reduce the height and weight. With its precision-tuned steering system and lightweight engine-integrated chassis, the Type 35 offered unprecedented agility and maneuverability.

From 1924, the Bugatti Type 35 became a memory

Two specific features allowed drivers to use its full potential on the track and on the road: cable-controlled drum brakes, as well as a pressurized fuel tank that improved fuel flow.

“When it was launched in 1924, the Bugatti Type 35 became a landmark, completely changing the standards in terms of automotive design and engineering. A century later, its impact and appeal have not diminished. »

“The Type 35 is at the heart of the brand’s DNA, along with the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic and the Bugatti Type 41 Royale. Every high-end sports car produced in Molsheim today is faithful to the design and engineering values of Ettore Bugatti, embodied in a lovely way a hundred years ago with Type 35. concludes Luigi Galli.