In 1924, Bugatti produced the famous Type 35, a car
that would achieve some 2000 competition victories in
its production life of seven years.
There were several
sub-derivatives of the Type 35, with engines ranging in
capacity from 1100cc to 2300cc, and body work built to
sports or purpose built racing car specifications.
The Type 35, like the earlier Type 30 of 1922, used a
straight-eight cylinder engine, originally of 2 liters
and good for 90bhp.
It is interesting to note that Bugatti
made the leap from 4 cylinders to straight-8 cylinder
engines without ever developing a mid-range 6 cylinder
unit.
Later there were 2.3-liter Type 35Ts ( the T designating
"
Targa Florio"), and various Grand Prix types, including
the supercharged Type 35Bs and 35Cs.
The Type 35 provided stellar performance, was blessed
with an extraordinary chassis and had a wonderful weight
distribution perhaps only bettered by later mid-engined
vehicles.
At the Parisian Fair of 1927 the Type 35 was displayed,
fully adorned with the trophies of countless race wins
up until that time.
The straight-eight engine was a masterpiece,
both in its appearance and in its function. Two separate four-cylinder aluminum blocks were fixed
to a common crankcase, all fits and finish being such
that gaskets were not required.
The engine was fed by
twin Zenith or Solex carburetors, while the crankshaft
ran in five ball (or roller) bearings.
A Type 35 weighed about 1650lb, and racing versions
were dominant in GP racing for several years. Most
'touring' versions were Type 35As, which looked like
the GP racing derivatives, but had a less-complicated
three-ball-bearing crankshaft engine from the Type
38.
These cars were good for a top speed of around
90mph (145 km/h), though competition types were capable
of well over 100mph (160.9 km/h), and a 35B was clocked
at almost 125mph (201 km/h) in 1930.
