1927 Bugatti Type 37

History

The Type 37 was first introduced in 1926 and available in two forms - normal and supercharged. The Supercharged versions were dubbed the 37A. Production lasted until 1930. During its production lifespan, around 290 examples were produced. The vehicle was powered by a 2-liter four-cylinder engine with a Zenith or Solex carburetor. With the use of the supercharger, the engine produced 90 horsepower. The top speed was achieved at nearly 100 mph. Power was sent to the rear wheels through the use of a four-speed manual gearbox.

The Bugatti Type 35 featured a powerful engine and was thus very successful on the racing circuit. Ettore Bugatti wanted to mass-produce the Type 35 but feared the engine would be too powerful for road use. So he used the engine from the Type 40 and installed it in the chassis of the Type 35, resulting in the Type 37. The supercharged versions were dubbed the Type 37A.

Like the Type 35, the Bugatti Type 37 delivered impressive overall performance, offering a higher level of versatility for racing, rallies, and road events. While the Type 35 was powered by an eight-cylinder unit, the Type 37 used a four-cylinder unit with plain (rather than roller) bearings and a one-piece crankshaft that attributed to its durability and longevity. The performance was enhanced by its simplicity and lightweight design, featuring a compact cylinder block, three-valve cylinder heads, and a single overhead camshaft.

The Type 37 models raced in a plethora of events of the era, including the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, and Le Mans.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2009