1927 Bugatti Type 39/35B Boattail Roadster

Bugatti's cars were as much works of art as they were mechanical creations: Engine blocks hand scraped to ensure that the surfaces were so flat that gaskets were not required for sealing, engine-turned finishes on many of the exposed surfaces of the engine compartment, and safety wires threaded through almost every fastener in intricately laced patterns.

Rather than bolt the springs to the axles as most manufacturers did, Bugatti's axles were forged such that the spring passed through a carefully sized opening in the axle, a much more elegant solution requiring fewer parts.

Back in the day, the Type 35B was the most successful racecar in the world. The car scored 1,851 racing victories in 1925, 1926, and 1927. In fact, no other car model in the history of the world has ever won so many races. The Bugatti factory created this car for their factory race team, but they also made these cars available for purchase to the public for the amount of $6,075.

The Type 39 was basically identical to the Type 35C except for its engine. This was modified to be smaller at 1.5-liters (1493 cc/91 cubic inches). A shorter-stroked crankshaft brought the stroke down from 88 mm to 66mm and a mix of regular and ball bearings was used. Ten examples were produced.