Bugatti Type 55

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Main other Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

The Bugatti Type 55 is a sports car produced by Bugatti from 1932 to 1935. It is a road-going version of the Type 51 Grand Prix car. A roadster, it had a Template:Cvt wheelbase and Template:Cvt weight.

History

The Type 55 was introduced at the 1931 Paris Motor Show and that particular car, chassis 55201, was subsequently purchased by the Duke of Tremoille.[1] It was available starting in 1932 and was produced until 1935, with the last car being delivered on July 30 of that year. 38 cars were produced in total. The majority of Type 55s had factory bodywork designed by Jean Bugatti, with 16 of the 38 wearing 2-seater roadster bodies and another 7 wearing coupe bodies, both of his design. Of the other 15, 11 were bodied by outside coachbuilders and the other four are unidentified.[2] None of the factory bodied cars had doors which made them far less practical than the cars bodied by external coachbuilders, most of which did have doors. The Type 55 was often criticized by reviewers for its lack of practicality and for being deafening to ride in, due to a combination of noisy mechanicals and straight cut gears.

File:1932 Bugatti Coupe Type 55, 160cv 2261cc 180kmh, Molsheim-Paris record by Jean Bugatti (inv 0604) photo 1.JPG
Type 55 Coupe at the National Automobile Museum in Mulhouse

Specifications

The Type 55 is powered by a detuned version of the Type 51's Template:Cvt 2-valve DOHC straight-8 engine with a Roots-type supercharger. It produces Template:Cvt at 5000 rpm.[3] Differences from the Type 51's engine include the addition of a camshaft driven AC mechanical petrol pump and a modified supercharger drive. The compression ratio was also lowered by the use of a larger Template:Cvt compression plate (the Type 51 used a Template:Cvt plate).[2] The car's 4-speed manual transmission came from the Type 49 touring car and featured straight cut gears. The car also wore the signature Bugatti eight-spoke aluminum wheels.

References

  1. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Template:Bugatti road car timeline Template:Bugatti


Template:Asbox