Bugatti’s final foray as a team entrant in Grand Prix racing was with the Type 59, considered in its day and even now as the most elegant pre-war racing car ever. The Type 57 engine was the basis of the design of the power plant, initially in 2.8 litre form, with twin camshafts, dry sump lubrication and a lightened crankshaft. The supercharged unit was said to develop some 230bhp. Le Patron’s fine eye for line resulting in the most exceptional styling and proportions, so exquisitely complemented by the superbly engineered ‘piano wire’ spoke wheels.
The first three Type 59 Grand Prix cars appeared in 1933. Achille Varzi was entered to drive a Works car in the 1933 French Grand Prix on 11th June but his car was not ready in time. He drove his car briefly during practice for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa on 9th July but the Team’s full debut was to be in the Spanish Grand Prix at San Sebastian on 24th September where Voitures Moteur Nos. 1, 2 and 3 lined up on the grid. Varzi drove No.1 to a creditable 4th place while René Dreyfus drove No.3 to 6th position – a not inauspicious start for this unproved new model.
Bugatti entered four cars for the first major Grand Prix of the 1934 season at Monaco in April, including the three modified 1933 cars, at that stage still in 2.8 litre form, and a 1934 car was allocated to veteran driver Robert Benoist who set the pace in practice, equalling what was destined to become the fastest lap of the race. His over-exuberance resulted in a practice accident which precluded his drive on race day.

The list of contemporary drivers of Type 59s reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of 1930s motor sport, including Wimille, Nuvolari, Dreyfus, Brivio, Benoist, Eccles, Lewis, Howe, Martin and Lemon Burton. The list of current and recent owners of Type 59s embraces the world’s most erudite collectors and drivers including amongst others Ferranti, Carr, Roberts, Millais and Corner.

 

Ralph Lauren, current owner of No.1, summed up the Type 59 best describing it as ‘designed totally from an aesthetic point of view... every detail is like a fine watch. It’s so refined, it’s elegant, fast and very beautiful’. This car is the subject of the 1/24 scale scratch built model illustrated here.