The Type 57 Bugatti Touring Car

The best known Bugatti racing cars are probably theThe inlet manifold, mounted on the right of the
Type 35, 51 and 59 Grand Prix models. But racingengine, changed design several times during the time
cars were the smaller part of the Bugatti productionthe Type 57 was in production with significant
line. The majority of the cars were not even sportsimprovements. The exhaust manifold was made from
cars, they were in fact touring cars.cast-iron and mounted on the opposite side.
Of the touring cars the Bugatti Type 57, 3.3 literThe suspension system used the typical Bugatti
eight-cylinder car produced between 1934 and 1939 isreversed quarter elliptical at the back with
the most outstanding. example of Ettore Bugatti'ssemi-elliptical springs up front. The braking system
work.was cable operated although towards the end of the
The Type 57 twin camshaft engine produced 130production run in 1938 this was changed to a
horse power and were available from March 1934.Lockheed hydraulic system.
During the production of the Type 57 some sportsThe performance of a1934 Type 57 was reported
versions were made, namely the 57S, Type 57C andby Motor Sport as reaching 105 mph while...
a very few 57SC's. In total, approximately 725 of all"The 57S has a truly astonishing performance being
the model Type 57's were produced.capable of 115 mph which is remarkably good for an
The engine was a remarkable piece of engineeringunblown sports car"
even by today's standards. The single pieceFast as these cars were they were also comfortable
crankshaft had full pressure lubrication while theto drive even in the London traffic according to the
twin-camshafts were driven from the pinion at thelate Sir Malcolm Cambell who, I suspect enjoyed
rear of the engine. The crankcase was of castrather more the superb road-holding, really brilliant
aluminum with Bonalite invar-strut pistons being fittedacceleration and very powerful brakes.
in most of the cars.