The Art of Racing

Unveiled at the Grand Prix of Lyon in 1924, the Bugatti Type 35 is not just an automobile; it is a kinetic sculpture. Ettore Bugatti, an artist as much as an engineer, believed that a car’s mechanical components should be as beautiful as they are functional. The Type 35 perfectly encapsulated this philosophy, featuring the iconic horseshoe radiator grille, sweeping boat-tail rear, and exposed mechanical linkages that were meticulously polished and hand-finished.

Its success on the track was unprecedented. Over its career, the Type 35 and its variants secured over 1,000 race victories, including the Targa Florio five consecutive times and the inaugural Monaco Grand Prix in 1929. It dominated the golden age of motorsport through a combination of lightness, reliability, and precision handling.

Engineering Elegance

At the heart of the original Type 35 was a masterpiece of an engine: a 2.0-liter inline-eight featuring a beautifully machined block. It utilized a ball-bearing crankshaft, allowing it to rev to an astonishing 6,000 RPM—an incredibly high figure for the 1920s. The hollow front axle was another stroke of genius, reducing unsprung weight by threading the springs through the axle itself.

• Wheels: Groundbreaking cast-aluminum alloy wheels with integrated brake drums
• Engine: 2.0L Inline-8 (later supercharged in the Type 35C)
• Weight: A featherlight 750 kg

A Visceral Machine

To drive a Type 35 is to step back in time to the heroic era of racing. The cockpit is exposed to the elements, and the driver sits upright, wrestling with the large, cord-wrapped steering wheel. The gear lever for the non-synchromesh 4-speed manual sits outside the bodywork, requiring careful rev-matching and double-declutching to engage.

The sound of the inline-eight is a deafening, mechanical symphony of whirring gears and sharp exhaust barks. Without seatbelts or rollover protection, it demands absolute respect and total concentration from the driver.

A Motorsport Icon

The Type 35 established the legend of Bugatti. It proved that a small, dedicated team of craftsmen could build a car capable of beating massive factory racing programs, leaving an indelible mark on automotive history.