Bugatti Type 55

The Bugatti Type 55 was the sports car version of Grand Prix racing car Type 54 and was produced from 1932 to 1935 at Bugatti.

Vehicle and equipment

The Type 55, which was developed by Jean Bugatti, had the chassis of the Type 54 and the engine concept of the Type 51, ​​the 2.3 - liter in-line 8- cylinder to deliver 96 kW at 5000 rpm. The 4- speed quick shift gearbox took over the Bugatti Type 49

Racing history

The first race of a Type 55, there were 1932 at the Mille Miglia. At the legendary road race through Italy Achille Varzi and Carlo Castelbarcos fell out after a technical defect; the victory went to Baconin Borzacchini an Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. Among the 24 - hour race at Le Mans in June 1932, two Type 55 have been reported. The car with the start number 15, reported by Guy Bouriat, drove Bouriat himself and Louis Chiron. The second car with the starting number 16 was the Polish Count Stanisław Czaykowski and the French Grand Prix veteran and former Bugatti factory driver Ernest Friederich piloted. Both vehicles did not see the checkered flag. The Bouriat / Chiron car had after 23 rounds of a leak in the fuel tank; the Czyakowski / Friederich cars after 180 rounds a valve damage.

Also in 1934 both fell reported from Type 55 in Le Mans. The car of Charles Brunet and Andre Carre crashed. The vehicle of Max Fourny and Louis Decaroli was disqualified. Also in 1935 both fell reported from Type 55 in Le Mans.

After the Second World War, two somewhat dated Type 55 appeared at racing events. John Willment in 1950 in a Formula Libre race at Goodwood in second. And a star border under the pseudonym " Gaston " racer was fourth in the 1953 sports car racing as part of the Grand Prix of Switzerland.