1925 Bugatti Type 35

Ettore Bugatti's Type 35 was introduced in 1924 and quickly established its credentials as the definitive Grand Prix racing car, remaining competitive for the next decade. Its attractive and effective design would continue with few visual changes through the final Type 51 variant of 1931/1932. During its competition career, it won over 1,000 races and took the Grand Prix World Championship in 1926.

Beneath the graceful bonnet was an engine first used with the Type 29. It was a three-valve 2.0-liter overhead camshaft straight-eight with a 60mm bore and a stroke of 88mm. It had five main bearings with a non-traditional ball bearing system which allowed high revolutions, up to 6,000 RPM, and 90 horsepower. It had two intake and one large exhaust, twin carburetors, and tubular exhaust headers. Its tapered chassis was rigid and used a hollow front axle, quick-change flat-spoke alloy wheels with integral brake drums, and leaf springs. The springs passed through the front axle rather than the system used on previous cars of U-bolting them together. The minimalistic body had a sharply pointed rear end (boattail) and a horseshoe-style radiator grille. The wheelbase measured 94.5-inches (2400mm) and had an overall length of 144.9-inches (3680mm).

Ten examples had been constructed at Bugatti's Molsheim factory by the time of the 1924 French Grand Prix held at Lyons, with five Works entries and five held in reserve. The team was plagued by tire issues throughout the race but did manage to finish in 7th place for the lead Bugatti, putting the world on notice in the process. The Type 35s would soon dominate Grand Prix racing, capturing 351 victories and 47 records in its first two production years. Factory driver Meo Constatini's outright victory at the 1925 Targa Florio was the first of five successive Bugatti victories there, dominating through 1929.

The Type 35A was introduced in May of 1925 and was essentially a less expensive version of the Type 35 intended for fast touring with body and chassis identical to the racing Type 35. Its engine used a simpler ball-bearing crankshaft, smaller valves, and battery-and-distributor ignition instead of a magneto. It developed less horsepower than the Type 35, but was easier to maintain. Instead of the alloy wheels of the Type 35, the 35A received wire-spoked wheels. It was given the nickname the 'Tecla' after a famous maker of imitation jewelry, even though it was capable of approaching 100 mph at 4,500 RPM in top gear.

Ninety-six examples of the Type 35 were built along with 139 of the Type 35A.

When Ettore Bugatti reluctantly added the Roots supercharger to his Grand Prix car, the Type 35C was birthed. It used a single Zenith carburetor and offered nearly 128 horsepower. Fifty examples were built and continued to build upon the Type 35's Grand Prix legacy by winning the French Grand Prix at Saint-Gaudens in 1928 and at Pau in 1930.

To contest the 1926 Targa Florio race, Bugatti built a special version of the Type 35 known as the Type 35T, also known as the Targa Florio. Its engine was given a longer 100mm stroke which boosted displacement to 2.3-liters (2,262cc). Thirteen examples were built but their appeal was limited as Grand Prix rules capped engine displacement at 2.0 liters.

The final iteration of the Type 35 was the Type 35B of 1927, although its original name was the Type 35TC. It used the 2.3-liter engine of the Type 35T along with a supercharger which brought output to 138 horsepower. The Type 35B boasted incredible performance figures and was capable of accelerating from zero-to-sixty mph in six seconds with top speed achieved at 125 mph. Forty-five examples were built and accolades achieved in competition include a victory in 1929 at the French Grand Prix at Le Mans.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2022