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1928 Bugatti Type 43

Bugatti's reputation was birthed by its lightweight and simplistic automobiles that were mechanically sophisticated and sold to clients hand-selected by Ettore Bugatti. The performance was proven through motorsport accomplishments at the hands of the world's greatest racing drivers. Accolades on both the road and track grew to new heights with the company's family of eight-cylinder cars, the first of which was the Type 30 that arrived in 1922. It shared its chassis, axles, and gearbox with the latest four-cylinder Type 13 Brescia model and equipped with an inline eight-cylinder engine displacing 1,991cc. It was a single overhead camshaft unit with three valves per cylinder that would evolve into the engine powering the Type 35 Grand Prix car, the Type 38 tourer and Type 43 sports car.

Ettore Bugatti had worked with such notable firms as DeDietrich, Mathis and Deutz before establishing his own firm in 1909. The first production model was the 1,327cc overhead cam four-cylinder Type 13. Prior to World War I, he constructed four-cylinder engines ranging from 1,368cc to 5,027cc, first with eight valves and later with sixteen. The company's first straight eight (2906cc) model was produced in 1913. The Type 35 arrived in 1924 and would become the company's most famous model, earning 1,851 racing victories in 1925, 1926, and 1927.

The Type 43 of mid-1927 was essentially a road-going version of the company's Grand Prix racing car, the Type 35. Beneath its bonnet was a 2,262cc eight-cylinder (in two four-cylinder blocks) engine with a Roots supercharger introduced on the Type 35B, with the Type 43 having a lower compression ratio and a conventional sump in place of the tubed variety. The 120 horsepower engine at 5,000 RPM could bring the Type 43 to sixty mph in less than twelve seconds and was noted at the time as the world's first 100 mph production car. The chassis was from the Type 38, sharing similarities with Bugatti's Grand Prix racer, and rode on wheels from the Type 35, and its brakes, axles, transmission, steering, and larger radiator were from the Type 38.

Produced from 1927 to 1931, a total of 160 examples of the Type 43 were built. A Type 43A roadster arrived in 1929 and was produced through 1932 with seventeen examples built.

by Dan Vaughan

Boattail Roadster by Pritchard & Demollin
Chassis number: 43222

In 1926 Bugatti introduced an updated version of the Type 35, the Type 35B, with a larger 8-cylinder, 2.3-liter supercharged engine. This engine was also used in their new road car, the Type 43. It featured larger brakes and a larger radiator also found in the Type 38, making the Type 43 more suitable for road use. With its racing car background, it was only natural for the owners and even the factory to campaign the Type 43 in events like the Brooklands handicap. Identifying features include the alloy Grand Prix-style wheels. Just 160 examples of the Type 43 were built by the Bugatti factory.

This example, with chassis number 43222, has unique two-seater coachwork by Pritchard & Demollin. Only a few Bugattis were bodied by the small Belgian coachbuilder.

Roadster by Lavocat and Marsaud
Chassis number: 43233
Engine number: 62

This Bugatti Type 43 was delivered as a rolling chassis to Stand Auto Garage on the Champs-Élysées in Paris after being invoiced in September of 1928. It received standard Grand Sport coachwork a month later and was registered to its first owner, Robert Senechal. When he raced in 1928 at the Rallye de Pau to victory (in the 2-to-3 liter category), the car wore temporary torpedo bodywork. A few days later, while competing at the Morlaas hillclimb, he earned a class win.

In January 1929, the car was given its roadster-style body by Lavocat et Marsaud which it wears today. It has seating for two plus a rumble seat in the rear, a folding windscreen, and front wings that follow into the running boards. Shortly after the coachwork was fitted, the car was campaigned at the French Motorcycle Club Hill Climb, with a class win at the Gometz le Chatel hillclimb coming that October. A short time later, it was sold into new ownership, and in 1932 it was acquired by Jean Trevoux. Mr. Trevoux won the Paris to Nice Rally outright a few months later with this Bugatti. This amazing accomplishment was followed by a class victory at the La Turbie hillclimb.

Before World War II, this car would have four additional French owners. Jean Charbonneaux purchased it in 1945 and retained it for over a decade. He also owned another Type 43 (chassis 43251 with engine number 62) and at some point during his ownership, the engines were swapped. François Claude Pruvot became the next owner in 1955 and sold to it a Parisian mechanic, Jacques Banao, in 1962. By 1965, the Bugatti had been exported to England and into the collection of Peter Newens. Franck Wall became the next custodian in 1971 and commissioned an extensive mechanical and cosmetic restoration. Upon completion, it wore a shade of dark blue, plate numbered FGW 27C, and aluminum cycle-style front fenders had replaced the original swept wings.

The Bugatti was sold at auction in London in October of 1978 to the Seydoux Collection in Paris. Oscar Davis acquired it in 1996 and it would remain on the continent where it was maintained at a shop in the Netherlands so it could be enjoyed at a moment's notice for several European rallies.

Davis sold the car in 2002 to a New Hampshire gentleman but would re-purchase the vehicle in 2007. In 2006, the car received an FIA Historic Technical Passport.

This Bugatti Type 43 currently wears a red exterior with a black leather interior. It has an aluminum louvered hood, fixed-rim-type wheels, cycle fenders, and a suite of Jaeger gauges.

by Dan Vaughan

The Bugatti Type 43 was introduced in 1927 and would remain in production until 1930, with around 160 examples produced. It was powered by a detuned engine from the Type 35B Grand Prix and fitted with a supercharger offering 120 horsepower. It had a mid-mounted transmission with axles similar to the Type 38.

by Dan Vaughan