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Dream Car Called Bugatti
Bugatti is the work of a person called Ettore Bugatti. He founded the company in Molsheim, France in 1909. This car company began as a manufacturer of high performance automobiles. The original company is legendary for producing some of the most exclusive cars in the world, as well as some of the fastest.
Ettore Bugatti was a genius and he could conceive a car as a work of art. His first creation was a three-wheel car with two engines. This little machine won eight local races out of ten and Ettore Bugatti entered it in the Paris-to-Bordeaux run. The tricycle placed third in the first stage, and young Bugatti returned to Milan, fired with the notion of building cars. He designed a four-engine machine which Prinetti & Stucchi, the firm he was working with, refused to build.
In 1900, he made his first rear engine car which had a four-cylinder overhead-valve engine, contact battery ignition, chain drive and a four-speed gearbox. This car created a sensation all over Europe and Bugatti received many offers. He moved from contract to contract, building cars, experimenting and developing a concept of car construction that was unique for its time.
Soon, Bugatti dreamt of setting up a factory on his own. In 1909, when he acquired a large piece of land at Molsheim in Alsace, his dream came into being. He settled down there and began his pet project, the production of a small, lightweight racing machine. When this little car appeared at Le Mans in 1911, it looked like a toy compared to the huge racing cars of those days. But this tiny machine came second behind Fiat.
With the success of 1911 Le Mans, Bugatti received more orders and the little factory grew. During the time of the World War-I, Bugatti fled to Paris with his family and had to turn his talent into making flying machines. After the war, Bugatti returned to Molsheim, and resumed production. In 1923, a beetle-bodied car sported the Bugatti badge and it was one of the few models that did not have the famous horseshoe-shaped radiator shell. Moreover, this car had two important innovations: aluminum wheels with integral aluminum brake drums and a front axle hollow in the centre but solid at the steering pivot where strength is required.
In 1929, Bugatti produced the largest car in the world, even by today's standards. It seemed as long as a freight car and costs $30,000 without the body. This monster had an eight-cylinder engine. But only a few were built as the Great Depression came in and many of the engines found their way into boats and gasoline-powered railroad locomotives.
Ettore Bugatti was a genius and he could conceive a car as a work of art. His first creation was a three-wheel car with two engines. This little machine won eight local races out of ten and Ettore Bugatti entered it in the Paris-to-Bordeaux run. The tricycle placed third in the first stage, and young Bugatti returned to Milan, fired with the notion of building cars. He designed a four-engine machine which Prinetti & Stucchi, the firm he was working with, refused to build.
In 1900, he made his first rear engine car which had a four-cylinder overhead-valve engine, contact battery ignition, chain drive and a four-speed gearbox. This car created a sensation all over Europe and Bugatti received many offers. He moved from contract to contract, building cars, experimenting and developing a concept of car construction that was unique for its time.
Soon, Bugatti dreamt of setting up a factory on his own. In 1909, when he acquired a large piece of land at Molsheim in Alsace, his dream came into being. He settled down there and began his pet project, the production of a small, lightweight racing machine. When this little car appeared at Le Mans in 1911, it looked like a toy compared to the huge racing cars of those days. But this tiny machine came second behind Fiat.
With the success of 1911 Le Mans, Bugatti received more orders and the little factory grew. During the time of the World War-I, Bugatti fled to Paris with his family and had to turn his talent into making flying machines. After the war, Bugatti returned to Molsheim, and resumed production. In 1923, a beetle-bodied car sported the Bugatti badge and it was one of the few models that did not have the famous horseshoe-shaped radiator shell. Moreover, this car had two important innovations: aluminum wheels with integral aluminum brake drums and a front axle hollow in the centre but solid at the steering pivot where strength is required.
In 1929, Bugatti produced the largest car in the world, even by today's standards. It seemed as long as a freight car and costs $30,000 without the body. This monster had an eight-cylinder engine. But only a few were built as the Great Depression came in and many of the engines found their way into boats and gasoline-powered railroad locomotives.
Bugatti remained at Molsheim until World War II and once again moved to Paris where he continued designing. Hundreds of ideas flowed from his drawing board, all filed for future development. When the war was over, Bugatti tried to resume his work, but failed as he was greatly affected by the war. In August of 1947, this intense individual car designer left for heavenly abode.
There are no more Bugattis from the original mill since 1940. But Bugatti has made a place for itself in the history of car racing. It can be said that Bugatti cars have won more races than any other car made.
The sleek sky-blue Bugatti cars almost completely dominated the race tracks of the world from 1925 till 1938. They had brute speed for the fast tracks, the lithe cornering ability for the tight courses. In 1925 and 1926 alone, they won over 1,000 races.
Some of the outstanding Bugatti cars were: the 1934 Type 35, a classic design; the Type 51, one of the most beautiful body shapes for its period; the Type 57, and the Type 59, the last of the flashing racing Bugs.
Although Ettore Bugatti was known for his racing cars, he always produced a road production model. Some were coupes, some convertibles, some sedans, but all had the flowing, rakish lines that suggested speed. The Type 57 passenger version, built in the 1930's can still do over 210 km/h.
No two Bugattis were ever exactly alike, so replacement parts have to be specially made, each time they were needed. Bugatti cars are responsive as thoroughbred horses and even a model dating back to the middle 1930's can outrun and outlast most of today's cars.
After the death of Ettore Bugatti, the company faced financial crisis and was eventually being purchased for its airplane parts business in the 1960s. It is now owned by Volkswagen as a subsidiary of Volkswagen France. It was founded again in 2000 as a successor to the Bugatti Automobili SpA. Volkswagen is being successful in reviving Bugatti as a builder of fast cars like that of Bugatti Veyron.
There are no more Bugattis from the original mill since 1940. But Bugatti has made a place for itself in the history of car racing. It can be said that Bugatti cars have won more races than any other car made.
The sleek sky-blue Bugatti cars almost completely dominated the race tracks of the world from 1925 till 1938. They had brute speed for the fast tracks, the lithe cornering ability for the tight courses. In 1925 and 1926 alone, they won over 1,000 races.
Some of the outstanding Bugatti cars were: the 1934 Type 35, a classic design; the Type 51, one of the most beautiful body shapes for its period; the Type 57, and the Type 59, the last of the flashing racing Bugs.
Although Ettore Bugatti was known for his racing cars, he always produced a road production model. Some were coupes, some convertibles, some sedans, but all had the flowing, rakish lines that suggested speed. The Type 57 passenger version, built in the 1930's can still do over 210 km/h.
No two Bugattis were ever exactly alike, so replacement parts have to be specially made, each time they were needed. Bugatti cars are responsive as thoroughbred horses and even a model dating back to the middle 1930's can outrun and outlast most of today's cars.
After the death of Ettore Bugatti, the company faced financial crisis and was eventually being purchased for its airplane parts business in the 1960s. It is now owned by Volkswagen as a subsidiary of Volkswagen France. It was founded again in 2000 as a successor to the Bugatti Automobili SpA. Volkswagen is being successful in reviving Bugatti as a builder of fast cars like that of Bugatti Veyron.
