1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante

The Bugatti Type 57 was the company's most successful road-going model. After four years in production, a new model emerged in parallel to the standard line. It was called the Type 57S, with the 'S' representing surbaisse or low. It was extensively re-engineered to be sportier. It was lighter, faster, shorter, lower, and more technically advanced than the existing Type 57.

The Type 57S was designed to have the engine mounted closer to the ground than on the standard car, thereby lowering the center of gravity. It had C-channel, gondola-shaped frame rails that were of thinner material and thus, lighter than the Type 57 frame. The engine was given a sophisticated dry-sump lubrication system which did away with the high-capacity oil pan in favor of a remote oil tank governed by dual pumps. The engine in the Type 57S offered about 25 more horsepower via a higher compression ratio and additional tuning. Bugatti engineers did away with the conventional distributor in favor of a high-performance Scintilla Vertex magneto, driven by the exhaust cam gear and hidden neatly behind the firewall, ahead of the dash.

The rear of the frame was designed so that the rear axle passed through an oval-shaped opening in each side rail, allowing the car to sit further down over the axle. The Type 57S was given an exhaust system that utilized special baffles within a thinner casing and a horizontal row of five small-diameter tailpipes to maintain a minimal but acceptable 10cm of ground clearance.

The front suspension was given a semi-independent configuration of a two-piece hollow axle with precisely machined, tapered ends held within a central knurled collar. This unconventional setup worked in unison with de Ram shock absorbers that provided immediate and effective damping. This was possible through a combination of hydraulic pressure and metallic multi-plate discs. To put things into perspective, a de Ram shock absorber costs about the same price as an entry-level automobile.

The mechanical configuration and components of the Bugatti Type 57S were a masterpiece, and Jean Bugatti demanded equally impressive coachwork. The hood-line and coachwork of a Type 57S typically sat several inches lower than a comparably styled Type 57. This allowed the fenders to peak just above the top of the vee'd radiator shell, and the coachwork completely enveloped the fame.

The Type 57SC was a supercharged version, offering around 200 horsepower.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2013