Bugatti Type 55
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Bugatti Type 55
| image = Bugatti Type 55.jpg
| caption = Bugatti Type 55 wearing 2 seat roadster bodywork designed by Jean Bugatti
| manufacturer = Bugatti
| production = 1931–1935
38 produced
| model_years = 1932–1935
| assembly =
| designer =
| body_style =
| related =
| layout = FR layout
| engine = {{cvt|2.3|L|cc}} supercharged straight-8 engine
| transmission = 4-speed manual
| wheelbase = {{cvt|2750|mm|in}}
| length =
| width =
| height =
| weight =
| predecessor =
| successor =
}}
The Bugatti Type 55 is a sports car produced by Bugatti from 1932 to 1935. It is a road-going version of the Type 51 Grand Prix car. A roadster, it had a {{cvt|108.3|in|mm|order=flip}} wheelbase and {{cvt|1800|lb|kg|order=flip}} weight.
History
The Type 55 was introduced at the 1931 Paris Motor Show and that particular car, chassis 55201, was subsequently purchased by the Duke of Tremoille.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/markewing/2017/12/09/first-bugatti-type-55-built-stars-at-goodings-scottsdale-auction-estimate-4-5-million/#4088059a4930|title=First Bugatti Type 55 Built Stars At Gooding's Scottsdale Auction, Estimate $4-5 Million|last=Ewing|first=Mark|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-05-05|language=en|date=9 December 2017}} It was available starting in 1932 and was produced until 1935, with the last car being delivered on July 30 of that year. 38 cars were produced in total. The majority of Type 55s had factory bodywork designed by Jean Bugatti, with 16 of the 38 wearing 2-seater roadster bodies and another 7 wearing coupe bodies, both of his design. Of the other 15, 11 were bodied by outside coachbuilders and the other four are unidentified.{{Cite book|title=Bugatti: The Man and the Marque|last=Wood|first=Jonathan|publisher=The Crowood Press|year=1992|isbn=978 1 85223 364 8|location=Ramsbury, Marlborough Wiltshire|pages=235-237}} None of the factory bodied cars had doors which made them far less practical than the cars bodied by external coachbuilders, most of which did have doors. The Type 55 was often criticized by reviewers for its lack of practicality and for being deafening to ride in, due to a combination of noisy mechanicals and straight cut gears.
Specifications
The Type 55 is powered by a detuned version of the Type 51's {{cvt|2.3|L|cc cuin}} 2-valve DOHC straight-8 engine with a Roots-type supercharger. It produces {{cvt|130|hp|kW}} at 5000 rpm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1932-bugatti-type-55-roadster-2/|title=1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster|website=Gooding & Company|language=en|access-date=2018-05-05}} Differences from the Type 51's engine include the addition of a camshaft driven AC mechanical petrol pump and a modified supercharger drive. The compression ratio was also lowered by the use of a larger {{cvt|9|mm|in}} compression plate (the Type 51 used a {{cvt|6|mm|in}} plate). The car's 4-speed manual transmission came from the Type 49 touring car and featured straight cut gears. The car also wore the signature Bugatti eight-spoke aluminum wheels.
References
{{Bugatti road car timeline}}
Category:24 Hours of Le Mans race cars
Category:Cars introduced in 1931
Category:Cars discontinued in 1935
{{Bugatti}}
{{Classicprw-auto-stub}}