1936 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux Two-Light Coupe
3.3 Liter Dual Cam 8 cylinder Alloy Engine
Fiber Gear Driven Camshafts for quiet operation
First Bugatti to offer Chassis developed for Touring rather Racing
Ventoux 2 door bodies designed by Jean Bugatti and produced in house
The Bugatti Type 57 is considered to be one of the most important automobiles produced by the French manufacturer as the cash flow from its sales helped to assure Bugatti’s survival in the economically challenging 1930’s. An aging Ettore Bugatti allowed his son Jean to design and develop much of the Type 57, borrowing from earlier aspects of the Bugatti 49 and 50 while utilizing a new and improved chassis and engine. Unlike the chain driven cams on the 49 and 50, The 3.3 Liter straight 8cylinder alloy engine featured dual cam shafts turned by multiple spur gears driven off the rear of the crankshaft, increasing RPM limits and yielding more speed. These gears were manufactured from a fibrous material which allowed them to be nearly silent in operation but achieving 135 horsepower. The car’s frame was unique to the road going Type 57 whereas all previous Bugattis shared a chassis platform derived from their racing efforts. Comfort and safety were enhanced through a cross braced frame and liberal use of rubber mounting. With a focus on being a performance luxury tourer, Bugatti had created a competitive machine to the highly styled Delage and Delahaye French sportsters of the period.
Unlike many of the high-end personal luxury vehicles of the time, the Type 57 Ventoux along with several other Type 57 models, all named after famous mountain passes, was to draw from styling created by Jean Bugatti himself, rather than by an outsourced carosserie (coach builder). Manufacturing the body as well as the frame at the Molsheim factory was a departure from earlier Bugatti tourers such as the Type 41 Royale. Over the 6 years of production, the Type 57 platform would be offered in a variety of body styles, including the Atalante 2 seater, one of the most sought after vehicles in the world. The Two-Light design shown here has an avant garde steeply raked windscreen and blind rear quarters which differentiates it from other Ventoux Coupes.
The Ventoux Coupe on display is one of only 6 manufactured with this body configuration as a 4 passenger 2 door. The body and engine have been mildly restored by marque specialists in the interest of originality and authenticity. The interior is finished in Havana leather with only the front seats being reupholstered. In many ways, the Type 57 was considered the pinnacle of automotive design and engineering leading into the Second World War.
Specifications:
Engine: 3.3 Litre Straight 8 Cylinder, dual overhead gear driven cams, 4 speed manual transmission
Performance: 135 horsepower; Top Speed 95 miles per hour
Brakes: Drum Brakes all wheels, cable operated
Weight: 2090 lbs