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In 1927 Bugatti had produced, in the form of the Type 43 Grand Sport, the first 100mph Grand Prix-engined sporting chassis suitable for everyday road use. It was in effect a close coupled four-seater touring model powered by the supercharged Type 35B Grand Prix engine. When in 1931 the Type 35 range was superceded by the twin-camshaft engined but almost identical Type 51 a corresponding road version soon followed. This comprised a slightly detuned version of the new engine mounted in the concurrent Type 54 Grand Prix car's heavier chassis but, unlike the Type 43, this new model was invariably a two-seater which was often referred to, quite justifiably, as the Super Sport. Indeed it truly was the ultimate exclusive supercar of the early Thirties.

Even its closest rival, the 8C Alfa Romeo, was produced in far greater numbers, the majority of which were in long-chassis form and often fitted with four-seater coachwork. In contrast almost half of the 38 Type 55 Bugattis built were fitted with flamboyant Jean Bugatti-designed roadster or closed coupé coachwork, the classic roadster being considered by many cognoscenti to be by far the most outstandingly attractive sports car ever offered to the motoring public.

Chassis & Sales.

55214-1932 Bugatti Type 55 'Tula Engineering' Roadster. Originally a Vanvooren Cabriolet for dealer Dominique Lamberjack. It then passed through the collection of H.H. 'Tom' Thomas who owned no less than 7 Type 55 Roadsters. At some point the car was disassembled and rebuilt with a Type 44 engine and Type 43 front axle. In the 1980s Tula Engineering rebuilt the car and fabricated a new body and interior around the original frame #31. It retained an original supercharger, bulkhead, gearbox casing, fuel tank and front hood.

Story by Christies Inc

Chassis & Sales

1932 Bugatti Type 55 55201 - sold for $1,760,000 This 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster is chassis number 55201 and engine number 1. It is the prototype Type 55 car and the only example to have louvers on the top of the bonnet. The first owner was Duc de la Tremoille who took possession of the car in October 1931 after the Paris Salon. Later in the cars life, it was given Figoni-style fenders and a removable tonneau. In 1951, the car was imported from France to the United States by Otto Zippe... more
Gallery: 2008 Monterey Preview

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