Bugatti Type 51

The Type 51 series succeeded the famous Type 35 as Bugatti's premier racing car for the 1930s. Unlike the dominant Type 35s of the prior decade, the Type 51 (and later Type 53, Type 54, and Type 59) were unable to compete with the government-supported German and Italian offerings.

File:Bugatti 51 02.jpg

Bugatti Type 51

Type 51

The original Type 51 bowed in 1931. Its engine was a 160 hp (119 kW) evolution of the supercharged 2.3 L (2262 cc/138 in³) dual overhead cam straight-8 found in the Type 35. A victory in the 1931 French Grand Prix was a rare case of success for the line. About 40 examples of the Type 51 and 51A were produced.

1933 Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix racer from the Ralph Lauren collection

Type 54

Another 5.0 L Type 51 was the Type 54 Grand Prix car of 1932. Also with 300 hp (223 kW), 4 or 5 were built.

1933 Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix racer from the Ralph Lauren collection

Type 59

The final Bugatti race car of the 1930s was the Type 59 of 1934]. It used an enlarged 3.3 L (3257 cc/198 in³) version of the Type 57's engine sitting in a modified Type 54 chassis. The engine was lowered for a better center of gravity, and the frame was lightened with a number of holes drilled in the chassis. The signature piano wire wheels were attached to the brake drums. 250 hp (186 kW) was on tap, and 6 or 7 were made.

See also

• Bugatti Type 53 - Four wheel drive Type 51 racer
• Bugatti Type 57 - Production version of the Type 51

External links

• Bugatti Trust Type 53 article

Prototypes	Racing Cars	Road Cars
1900–1901 Type 2 1903 Type 5 1908 Type 10 1925 Type 36 1929 Type 40 1929 Type 41 1929–1930 Type 45/47 Type 56 (electric car) 1939 Type 64 (coupe) 1943/1947 Type 73C	1910–1914 Type 13/Type 15/17/22 1922–1926 Type 29 1923 Type 32 "Tank" 1924–1930 Type 35/35A/35B/35T/35C/37/39 1927–1930 Type 52 (electric racer for children) 1936–1939 Type 57G "Tank" 1937–1939 Type 50B 1931–1936 Type 53 1931–1936 Type 51/51A/54GP/59 1955–1956 Type 251	1910 Bugatti Type 13 1912–1914 Type 18 "Garros" 1913–1914 Type 23/Brescia Tourer (roadster) 1922–1934 Type 30/38/40/43/44/49 (touring car) 1927–1933 Type 41 "Royale" (limousine) 1929–1939 Type 46/50/50T (touring car) 1932–1935 Type 55 (roadster) 1934–1940 Type 57/57S/Type 57SC (touring car) 1951–1956 Type 101 (coupe) 1957–1962 Type 252 (2-seater sports convertible)

Bugatti, a division of the Volkswagen Group since 1998, roadcar timeline 1910-Present
Type	1910s										1920s										1930s										1940s										1950s										1960s			1970s	1980s			1990s										2000s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2		7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Owner	Ettore Bugatti/Roland Bugatti																																																						Romano Artioli											Volkswagen AG
Touring													Type 30/Type 49													Type 57
																				Type 46
Limousine																		Type 41 Royale
Roadster					Type 13/Brescia Tourer																			Type 55
Coupe																																										Type 101
Sports	Type 13		Type 18 Garros																																													Type 252
Super car																																																											EB110														Veyron