BUGATTI 59 – year 1934

Automobiles E. Bugatti, Molsheim, France.

W 1934 year, the international sports commission of the CSI (International Sports Commission) established new Grand Prix racing rules, with some restrictions. The most important of these restrictions was the maximum weight of an empty car (without fuel, oil, coolant, tools, and even tires) on 750 kg.

Following this formula, Bugatti prepared a model 59, equipped with a modified model engine 51, in which the cylinder diameter was increased to 72 mm and the stroke length remains unchanged 100 mm the capacity was obtained 3257 cm3. The eight-cylinder in-line engine with two overhead camshafts produced power 184,0 kW (250 KM) by 5500 RPM. A crankshaft mounted in six bearings drove the Roots compressor, pump and magneto. The engine was equipped with two Zenith carburettors. The chassis did not differ from the previous models, i.e. rigid bridges were suspended at the front on semi-ellipticals, rear on rotated quarter-elliptical springs. First of all, the front bridge has been resolved in an interesting way, made of a bipartite, empty forging, through which the steel bars passed in order to achieve minimal mutual movement. The rear axle had a double reduction gear. On an extended and elongated chassis from the model 51 the driver's seat was located on the left side. The mechanic's seat was covered with a tin cover. Wheels, cast of aluminum, they had wire spokes, radially attached to the wheel hub in the outer layer. Mechanical brakes acted on all wheels. It was not possible to adjust the brakes, but when dismantling the wheels attached to the brake drums, the shoes could be easily replaced. The car reached its maximum speed 240 km/h. Total in years 1934-1936 only done 9 type cars 59, which had many items identical to the version 57, which facilitated their simultaneous production and the use of spare parts by individual users. W 1934 model year 59 has achieved several successes – won the first, second and fourth place at the Belgian Grand Prix (Dreyfus, Brivio, Benoist), first place in Algeria (Wimille) and third at the Monaco Grand Prix (Dreyfus), Spain (Nuvolari) and Switzerland (Dreyfus).