The Bugatti Type 35 is a 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 number of privateer clientele from around the world and pioneered the concept of a 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 successful in its intended purpose, winning over 1,000 races. 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.
Type 35 (naturally aspirated) This original, defining model was introduced at the 1924 French Grand Prix, held at Lyon. The inaugural outing for the Type 35 was not a success due to fitment of badly-vulcanised Dunlop tyres. Despite this, the model showed promise and became increasingly competitive with refinements being made.
The car used an evolution of the three-valve overhead cam straight-eight engine first seen on the Type 29. Bore was and stroke was of as on many previous Bugatti models.
This new powerplant featured a roller bearing system, numbering five in total, which allowed the engine to rev to 6,000 rpm. Output was up to . Alloy wheels were a novelty, as was the hollow front axle for reduced unsprung weight. Another feature of the Type 35 that was to become a Bugatti trademark was passing the springs through the front axle rather than simply U-bolting them together as was done on their earlier cars. The Type 35 also featured an 8-day dashboard clock made by Doxa.
96 of these un-supercharged T35 examples were produced.
Type 35A
A mechanically simpler version of the Type 35 appeared in May 1925. Intended for road use while retaining the 'racing look', several were raced anyway and with some success. The public nicknamed the model "Tecla" after a famous maker of imitation jewellery. The Tecla's engine used plain bearings on the crankshaft (for ease of maintenance), smaller valves, and coil ignition like the Type 30, it was normally delivered on regular wire-spoked wheels.
139 examples of the Type 35A were produced.
Type 35T
Bugatti introduced a special model for the 1926 Targa Florio race with an engine displacement increased to with a longer stroke; the car could not be used for Grands Prix due to rules limiting capacity to 2.0 litres.
13 T35Ts were produced.
Type 35C
The Type 35C was introduced in 1926 and featured a Roots supercharger, despite Ettore Bugatti's disdain for forced induction. Output was nearly with a single Zenith carburettor. The Type 35C came first and second during its first race outing at the 1926 Milan Grand Prix held at Monza. This 2.0-litre supercharged configuration continued to be very dependable.
In 1929, Bugatti was charging for the Type 35C. French pilot Guy Bouriat bought two in March 1929.
Approximately 45 examples left the factory.
Type 35B
Named by the factory "Type 35TC" (Targa Compressor), this most powerful version became known colloquially as the "T35B". It shared the 2.3 litre engine of the Type 35T this time with a large supercharger added. Output was . A British Racing Green Type 35B driven by William Grover-Williams won the inaugural 1929 Monaco Grand Prix. While having more torque, the Type 35B did not rev as high and engine fuel consumption levels were such that the factory reverted to producing the T35C.
Around 37 Type 35B were produced.
Type 37
The Type 37 sports car used the same chassis and bodywork as the full-power Type 35, but were mostly delivered with wire wheels. Fitted with a new 1.5 litre () straight-4 engine (69 mm x 100 mm), it was easier to maintain for many privateer drivers. This engine was a SOHC three-valve design and produced . The same engine went on to be used in the Type 40.
Around 223 Type 37s were built.
Type 37A
The supercharged Type 37A enabled engine output to reach . It also had larger shrouded brake drums.
Around 67 Type 37As were produced.
Type 39
The Type 39 was similar to the Type 35 except for the engine crankshaft, modified to produce a smaller 1.5 litre (). Stroke was down from 88 mm to 66 mm, and a mix of plain and roller bearings were used in the crank.
10 examples were produced (some being supercharged (Type 39A)).
A single 1.1 litre () version was also created by reducing the bore of the engine to 51.3 mm.
Technical data
Type 35AType 35Type 35CType 35BType 39BType 39CType 39DType 39AType 39Type 37Type 37AEngine: Front mounted 8-cylinder in-line engine4-cylinderDisplacement: 1991 cc2262 cc1091 cc1484 cc1493 cc1495 cc1496 cc Bore × stroke: 60 x 88 mm 60 x 100 mm 51.3 x 66 mm 54 x 81 mm 60 x 66 mm 52 x 88 mm 69 x 100 mmMax power at rpm: 70 hp at 4000 rpm 100 hp at 5000 rpm135 hp at 5500 rpm80 hp at 5000 rpm120 hp at 6000 rpm85 hp at 6000 rpm65 hp at 4500 rpm75 hp at 5000 rpmValve control: 3 valves per cylinder, SOHCCompression: Naturally aspiratedRoots compressorNaturally aspirated RootsCarburetor: 2 Solex 35 or 2 Zenith 36Zenith 48KZenith 362 Solex 35 or 2 Zenith 36Zenith 36 UH or SolexUpload: Gearbox: 4-speed manual Suspension front: Rigid hollow shaft with semi-elliptical leaf springs running through the shaftRigid hollow axle with sail for pointing quail elliptical leaf feathersRigid solid axleSuspension rear: Rigid axle with inverted quarter-elliptical leaf springsBrakes: Drums, all-roundChassis & body: Aluminium body on steel ladder frameWheelbase: 240 cmDry weight: 750 kg700 kg720 kgTop speed: 145 km/h177 km/h190 km/h150 km/h185 km/h 150 km/h
Notable race victories
YearRaceDriverCar1925Rome Grand PrixCarlo MassettiType 35Targa FlorioBartolomeo CostantiniType 35Circuito del GardaAymo MaggiType 351926Coppa AcerboLuigi SpinozziType 35 Coppa Etna Aymo MaggiType 35 AFrench Grand PrixJules GouxType 39 AGran Premio de San SebastiánJules GouxType 39 AItalian Grand PrixLouis CharavelType 39 ARome Grand PrixAymo MaggiType 35Spanish Grand PrixBartolomeo CostantiniType 35Targa FlorioBartolomeo CostantiniType 35 TTripoli Grand PrixFrançois EysermannType 351927Targa FlorioEmilio MaterassiType 35 CTripoli Grand PrixEmilio MaterassiType 35 CRome Grand PrixTazio Nuvolari Type 35SolituderennenAugust MombergerType 35 BGrand Prix de la MarnePhilippe ÉtancelinType 35 B1928French Grand PrixWilliam Grover-WilliamsType 35 CItalian Grand PrixLouis ChironType 37 ASan Sebastián Grand PrixLouis ChironType 35 CSpanish Grand PrixLouis ChironTarga FlorioAlbert DivoType 35 BTripoli Grand PrixTazio NuvolariType 35 CMoroccan Grand PrixEdward MeyerType 35 C1929French Grand PrixWilliam Grover-WilliamsType 35 BGerman Grand PrixLouis ChironType 35 CSpanish Grand PrixLouis ChironMonaco Grand PrixWilliam Grover-WilliamsType 35 BTarga FlorioAlbert DivoType 35 CAustralian Grand PrixArthur TerdichType 37 AAlgerian Grand PrixMarcel LehouxType 35 C1930Belgian Grand PrixLouis ChironType 35 CCzechoslovakian Grand PrixHeinrich-Joachim von Morgen and Hermann zu LeiningenType 35 BEifelrennenHeinrich-Joachim von MorgenType 35 BFrench Grand PrixPhilippe ÉtancelinType 35 CMonaco Grand PrixRené DreyfusType 35 BAustralian Grand PrixBill ThompsonType 37 A1931Australian Grand PrixCarl JunkerType 39Grand Prix des FrontièresArthur LegatType 37 A1932Australian Grand PrixBill ThompsonType 37 A1933Grand Prix des FrontièresWilly LonguevilleType 35 B
References
Further reading
External links Bugatti Club France page