1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff
1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff
1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff
1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff
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Aravis Drophead Coupe
Coachwork: Gangloff
Chassis Num: 57710
Engine Num: 510
 
The Bugatti Type 57 is considered to be Bugatti's most successful road going creation which debuted in 1934 and remained in production until the start of WWII, with a total of 739 examples being produced. The design was inspired by Jean Bugatti, who had his father's sense of engineering, created several standard body designs which were available through the factory. This included a four-door Gabilier coach, two-door Ventoux, 1939 57C four-door coach, Atalante on the 57C and 57S chassis, and the Atlantic Coupe which was also available on the 57C and S.

The Type 57 was a new design. Little was borrowed from its predecessor, except for the bore and stroke of the Type 49 engine. The Type 57S was offered beginning in 1935. The Series 2 Type 57 soon followed which brought with it rubber engine mounts, cam and engine timing improvements, heavier chassis and revised dashboard. In 1937, the Type 57C became available. This was a supercharged version which added improved horsepower output over its siblings. The 3.3-liter engine with the supercharger was capable of producing over 215 horsepower.

The final iteration of the Type 57 came in 1938 with the Series 3. The Series 3 had hydraulic brakes, which Ettore Bugatti disagreed with after having poor results with the setup during the 1924 Grand Prix season. Ettore reluctantly cooperated with the decision but did insist on having dual master cylinders in the design. The DeRam equipment was replaced in favor of the Allinquint hydraulic shock absorbers. The DeRam setup had been deemed too expensive to continue.

This 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Drophead Coupe is only one of four ever created and one of the few surviving of its kind. the coachwork was handled by Gangloff.

Since new, it has been treated to a complete and professional restoration. At the time of its restoration, it was fitted with a correct-style Bugatti supercharger which brought it up to the 'C' specification.

It was offered for sale at the 2006 Gooding & Company Auction held in Pebble Beach where it was estimated to sell for $1,500,000-$1,800,000. It is in concours ready condition with a history that is completely accounted for and known. It is one of only three that has survived in modern times and one of the greatest examples of the Type 57 ever created. At auction, the car did sell, finding a new owner for the price of $1,375,000.
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Coachwork: Gangloff
 
Italian born Ettore Bugatti, manufactured these automobiles in Molsheim, a town in the Alsace region, which was a part of the German Empire (Alsace was annexed by Germany in 1871 and restored to France in 1919). Known for its luxurious passenger cars and race cars, Bugatti is particularly noted for winning many races, including LeMans in 1937 and 1939. The custom coachwork on this particular automobile is by Gangloff, located in Colmar, Alsace region near the Molsheim plant.

The 1938 Bugatti features a supercharged in-line dual overhead cam, 8-cylinder engine with displacement of 3257cc (198.8 cubic-inches) producing 210 horsepower. This high performance Bugatti is capable of 110 miles per hour and zero-to-sixty mph in 10 seconds.
Many manufacturers during this time produced multi-purpose vehicles that could be driven to a race track, raced, and then driven home. The Bugatti Type 57, however, was solely a road-going vehicle and is considered the most celebrated of all non-racing Bugattis. Even though the Type 57 was strictly a road-going vehicle, a racing version was created for the 1937 24-Hours of Le Mans race. This vehicle, based on the Type 57S chassis and named the 57G, won the race. A supercharged version was created for the 1939 Le Mans race and also was victorious. This is the legacy of the Bugatti heritage and the quality and innovative designs that were truly masterpieces in all respects.

In 1934, the Type 57C entered the scene, a project headed by Jean Bugatti, the son of Ettore Bugatti. The vehicle centered around refinement while focusing on the values that had made Bugatti successful.

Three 'factory' bodies were available and consisted of the Ventoux, a two-window and four window version, the Stelvio, and the Atalante. All of the Atalante bodies were produced and all were done in-house. The Atalante was named after peaks in the Alps and is one of the most exclusive bodystyles ever produced by Bugatti.

The Type 57 could also be ordered with Galibier four-door bodies. Ealier versions of the Galibier bodies had suicide-opening front doors with no pillar. Later versions had suicide-opening front doors and rear doors hung in the traditional fashion. The front and rear doors would share a common pillar.

Jean designed an indepenent front suspension to aide in the handling of the vehicle. This was not popular with Ettore Bugatti and had the traditional Bugatti front axle installed.

A 3.3 liter, twin-cam, straight-eight engine was used to power this vehicle. Even with the heavy saloon bodies, the engine could propel the vehicle to a speed of around 95 mph. A Roots-type supercharger was later added and the vehicle was given the designation 57C. The supercharger was quiet and provided between three to four pounds of boost pressure. The addition of the supercharger increased the horsepower rating to 175.

The Type 57S version was a 'sportier' version of the Type 57. The chassis was shorter, with the rear axle running through the frame. A slightly tuned engine with higher compression and a dry sump lubrication helped increase the performance of the car. The front and rear axles received de Ram shock aborbers, replacing the Hartford Friction dampers.

The Type 57SC was a combination of the 57C and 57S. The engine produced between 200 and 220 horsepower.

On August 11, 1939 while testing a Type 57C tank-bodied racer near Molsheim, Jean Bugatti was killed. This was the same day as the start of the 2nd World War, which inevitably meant that the race Jean was preparing the vehicle for would never be run.
Ettore Arco Isidoro Bugatti was born in Milan, Italy in 1881. His father, Carlo, was a furniture designer of some fame. The father's brother, Rembrandt, was a gifted sculptor of animals. When he was old enough, Ettore attended the Brera Academy of Art where he studied sculpture. Soon, he turned his attention to mechanical endeavors.

The first Bugatti motor car was built in 1899 though the first vehicle to bear his name was the Type 13 of 1910. Power came from a four-cylinder, eight-valve engine. The 1913 the radiators became more rounded and in the shape of a horse shoe.

The company's first eight-cylinder engine production car was introduced in 1922 and dubbed the Type 30. The engine had a single overhead camshaft and displaced two liters. The car had a drum brakes, solid axles and leaf springs on all four corners.

The Type 35 in all sequences, the A, B, C, and T, were some of Bugatti's early examples that made the marque famous. The Type 57 introduced in 1934 and continued in production until 1940. They were powered by a 3257cc straight-eight engine with double overhead camshafts that produced between 130 and 140 horsepower. There were four road-going versions of the 57 and these were the Type 57, Type 57C, Type 57S, and Type 57SC. The Type 57C was a supercharged version while the Type 57S was a sporty version based on a short and lower wheelbase. The Type 57SC was a combination of the 57S and 57C. A variety of body-styles were offered throughout the years.

The engine rested in a ladder-type frame and matted to a four-speed manual gearbox. The front had a tubular axle with the suspension comprised of longitudinally mounted semi-elliptic leaf springs. The rear axle was suspended in place by a pair of quarter-elliptic leaf springs. The early versions of the vehicle had cable-operated drums on all four wheels. Later versions were upgraded with Lockheed hydraulic brakes with twin master cylinder, which first appeared in 1938.

The Type 57 and its variants were intended for road going use. However, many made their way onto the racing circuit. Lord Howe drove a Type 57 to a third place finish in the 1935 Tourist Trophy. A Type 57G won the Monthlhery and Reims race in 1936. In 1937, Jean-Pierre Wimille and Robert Benoist drove a Bugatti to victory at LeMans.

Many of the cars were clothed by prominent coachbuilders such as Figoni, Van Vooren, Corsica, and James Young. Most of the chassis were bodied by the factory with coachwork in the style of Jean Buggatti. The catalog bodies included two versions of the Ventoux Coupe, the Galibier four-door sedan, the Stelvio cabriolet, Atalante, and Atlantic. The Atlantic and Atalante were constructed in two-door coupe configuration. Gangloff, a Swiss coachbuilder, was tasked with clothing most of the factory bodies.

Photos grouped by event

31st Annual Ault Park Concours d'Elegance

Ault Park Concours d'Elegance

Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction

2006 Concours d'Elegance at Ault Park

1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff

Year1938
MakeBugatti
ModelType 57C Gangloff
Engine LocationFront
Drive TypeRear Wheel
Production Years for Series1937 - 1940
Coach WorkGangloff
Weight950 kg | 2094.8 lbs

Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown
Chassis Number57710
Engine Number510

Performance
Top Speed120 mph | 193.1 km/h Similar top speeds

Engine  
Engine ConfigurationI
Cylinders8
Aspiration/InductionSupercharged
Roots Type
Displacement3257.00 cc | 198.8 cu in. | 3.3 L.
Valves16 valves.
2 valves per cylinder.
ValvetrainDOHC
Horsepower160.00 BHP (117.8 KW) @ 5000.00 RPM
HP to Weight Ratio13.1 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio)
HP / Liter48.5 BHP / Liter
Redline5000
Fuel TypeGasoline - Petrol
Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight

Standard Transmission
Gears4
TransmissionManual
Clutch Type: Dry, single-plate; double reduction lever


 
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Articles and Event Coverage
31st Annual Ault Park Concours d'Elegance
Ault Park Concours d'Elegance
Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction
2006 Concours d'Elegance at Ault Park

Additional Resources and Links
Concours d'Elegance at Ault Park Official Website
Gooding & Company Auction : Pebble Beach Official Website

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