The prototyp Type 55 Roadster Jean Bugatti in 1931

The Type 55 Roadster
In 1931, the Type 55 replaced the Type 43 super sport tour car with a Grand Prix motor. The Type 55 Bugatti now used the 2.3 litre Grand Prix motor with a compressor from the Type 51 and the very stiff chassis of the Type 47 designed for a 16 cylinder motor. Thus it brought together different ingredients to make one of the best Bugatti vehicles. The brakes and tyres of the Type 55 were identical to those of the Type 51. The draft of the lovely two-seater roadster body offered by the factory stemmed from Jean Bugatti. Apart from the roadster also the so-called "Faux Cabriolet" was offered by the factory, a coupé whose design also came from Jean. In total 38 chassis of the Type 55 were manufactured between 1931 and 1935, 13 of them had the famous roadster body shown here. The acceleration of the Type 55 was amazing. From 0 to 100km/h in under 10 seconds. Whilst steering and road holding around bends convinced, many drivers wished for a gearbox like the Grand Prix one instead of the sluggish Type 49 gear box. In 1933, a test journalist wrote the following about the Type 55 in "Autocar": "One doesn't expect an engine of this type to run noiselessly. Whilst the exhaust noise of the car is noticeable but tolerable, there are a lot of mechanical noises that are caused by the gear box and the closely toothed wheels of the camshaft drive system. At high speed these individual noises turn into a wild, impressive howl. Road holding and handling are so excellent that one can zip around bends with the car. As it doesn't swerve one feels completely safe. For a car of this type the suspension can be called comfortable…. Some experience has to be used on the gear box, the fi rst and second gear slightly "hang" at high engine speed otherwise they can be changed quickly". More than any other Bugatti, the elegant Type 55 is a wolf in sheep's clothing.