In 1924, just over a hundred years ago, a legend entered the French Grand Prix – the Bugatti Type 35. This incredible machine has stood tall for 100 years, defining an era as a symbol of engineering excellence, aesthetic beauty, and motorsport dominance. As we look back through the path traced over 1000 race wins and multiple championships, the Type 35 is still a class-apart machine and one of the most beautiful racing cars.
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The Birth of a Legend
Ettore Bugatti believed that “nothing is too beautiful, nothing is too expensive.” And proved it with the Bugatti Type 35. This was reflected in each and every detail of the Type 35- from its eternal lines of grace and beauty to revolutionary engineering. The car was meant for the race tracks, and it did just that. Its light chassis merged with the most advanced suspension system of the time and a very powerful, straight-eight engine, instantly turning the Type 35 into one of the most threatening on-wheel forces in motorsport.
During its racing career of countless wins, including an unprecedented five Targa Florio wins from 1925 to 1929. No other racing car has ever reproduced such a career. Type 35 attained a height of success no car had ever attained or since has, making this Bugatti the greatest of all race cars. But Type 35 was something more than just an unassuming winner on the track; it was a work of art that married form and function in a way that has rarely been matched.
A Design for the Ages
If its performance was revolutionary, the design of the Bugatti Type 35 was even better. From its horseshoe-shaped radiator to spoked wheels and handcrafted bodywork, this beast set new standards in automotive design. Ettore Bugatti had a background in fine art and engineering; every curve and every line in the Type 35 reflected this, making it as beautiful to look at as it was to drive.
Another major key to the car’s success was its lightweight design. It weighed only 750 kilograms, which made it agile and responsive to drive aggressively. Since its suspension system mounted the leaf springs on the outside of the chassis for better road-holding and stability, the Type 35 was in a league of its own on the twisting roads of Europe’s race circuits.
Type 35 is one of the most celebrated exceptional cars in history at A Motorsports Gathering, The Quail, and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This year, it was there alongside the latest from the Bugatti family: the Bugatti Tourbillon. But behind this, we find a naturally aspirated V16 and timeless design that will pass any timeless test as a true testimony to the guiding principles of Ettore Bugatti. If the Type 35 had been created to be the perfect racing machine, the Tourbillon is created “Pour L’éternité” to last for eternity—a bridge to the future and a nod to the past that is Bugatti.
The Pebble Beach Showcase
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is one of the most prestigious events on the planet of wheels and was certainly an ideal location to celebrate an anniversary: the 100th anniversary of the Type 35. Up against a simply stunning Pacific Ocean backdrop, the Type 35 was presented in company with other legendary Bugatti models – the Type 57 and the EB110. Each one of these cars is a masterpiece in its own right, but together they underlined the continuity of Bugatti’s commitment. The most striking moments included the victory of Best of Show by Bugatti Type 59 Sports automobile with an independent rich history.
Highlighted against the background of a dynamically changing automotive world with fast technological development, the Type 35 reminds one that there are designs that can be considered timeless and of uncompromising quality. Whether on a race track or on display in some of the world’s most highly acknowledged car shows, the Bugatti Type 35 continues to influence and inspire. As Bugatti moves into the future, there is no doubt that the spirit of the Type 35 will be part of the journey that the brand takes in the next 100 years.
