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1924 Bugatti Type 35 Prototype (pictured above)
Grand Prix racer or daily driver—the Type 35 could be driven to the track, on the track and home from the track. The Type 35 was Ettore Bugatti’s masterpiece, and it played a huge part in establishing his reputation as one of the world’s finest automobile manufacturers. The success of the Type 35 and its unique place in automotive design history are unequaled.
After his achievements with the Type 23 Brescia in 1922, Bugatti revealed the next generation of Bugatti voiturette racers at the 1924 ACF Grand Prix. The new Type 35 built upon the ultra-lightweight designs of the Brescia and improved upon the overall control, braking, and engine output—a winning combination of beauty, speed, and handling. The innovative all-in-one rims, spokes, and brake drums were cast as a single piece of aluminum that could be replaced with only one nut. The vertical design of the spokes allowed air to circulate and cool the braking system, becoming a signature of the marque’s subsequent wheels.
The Type 35A was introduced by the Bugatti factory in 1925 as a less expensive version of the Type 35, and its coachwork is virtually identical.
📸: shorey.net; Mullin Automotive Museum
📚: mullinautomotivemuseum.com