1927 Bugatti
Type 43
The first Bugatti Type 43 was delivered on June 16th, 1927. At the heart of the Type 43 was its 2.3-liter supercharged straight-eight engine. Except for a lower compression ratio, the Type 43's eight-cylinder supercharged engine, in two four-cylinder blocks, was identical to the one placed in the Type 35B racing car.
The car's transmission, axles and radiator came from the Type 38. The impressive performance was underlined by WF Bradley when, accompanied by Ettore on a drive in the early Type 43, it was reported that with the standard gear ratio, it will run up to 112 mph. It was noted at the time as the world's first 100 mph (160 km/h) production car.
With it's racing car background it was only natural for the owners and even the factory to campaign the Type 43 in events like the Brooklands handicap races. It proved fast but unreliable as it was based on a Grand Prix racer. The weak point was the Grand Prix crankshaft.
It was replaced by the Type 43A in 1930 which was more luxurious and thus heavier which was an even higher strain on the engine.
160 of these "Grand Sport" cars were made from 1927 through 1931, with a Type 43A roadster appearing that year and lasting through 1932.
The model is a much modified Monogram kit of a Type 35 with body and chassis lengthened and raised, and with a scratch built windscreen and top.
