Bugatti Type 101

Bugatti Type 101
Manufacturer Bugatti
Production 1951-1956
8 units
Body style 4-door saloon
cabriolet
2-door coach
coupé
roadster
Layout FR layout
Engine 3257 cc straight-8
Transmission 4-speed manual
Wheelbase 3.3 m (130 in)[1]
Related Bugatti Type 57

In order to restart Bugatti, a new car was needed for the 1950s. The result was the 1951 Type 101. An evolution of the Type 57, it is considered by many to be the last true Bugatti car, until 1956; with just seven produced. Powered by the 3.3 L (3257 cc/198 in³) straight-8 from the Type 57. The seven chassis were bodied by four different coachbuilders:Gangloff, Guillore, Antem, and Virgil Exner/Ghia.

Contents

Production

Six Type 101 chassis were built after an initial converted Type 57 chassis prototype. At least two more Type 57s were also converted to Type 101 specifications, making a total of nine Type 101 cars produced.

The last Type 101 was built in 1965 by Ghia designed by Virgil Exner for the last remaining Type 101 chassis as an attempt to revive the marque. It was exhibited at the Turin Motor Show, but financing could not be arranged and production plans were scrapped. Exner owned the car for many years, and it has lately appeared in public at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Year Chassis Number Body Notes
1935 57299 Coupe
1935 57314 Stelvio Cabriolet by Gangloff Converted to Type 101 specification by the factory at the request of owner M. Dettwiler
1951 57454 Gangloff coupé This car was built on a converted Type 57 chassis and exhibited at the 1951 Paris Salon. Currently at the Schlumpf Collection with engine 101503 installed. Pictured above.
1952 101500 Guillore 4-door saloon Cream-colored, with free-standing headlights. Currently at the Schlumpf Collection.
1952 101501 Gangloff cabriolet Exhibited at the 1952 Paris Salon. Light blue repainted dark blue. Formerly of the Auto & Technik Museum in Sinsheim, Germany. Now at the Pantheon museum in Basel, Switzerland.
1952 101502 Guillorê 2-door coach Dark blue with portholes, the body was possibly intended for a Delahaye. Sold for $269,265at the Bonhams Rétromobile auction in Paris, 2008.
1952 101503 Gangloff cabriolet Currently has engine 101504 installed and displayed at the Schlumpf Collection.
1951 101504 Antem coupé Exhibited at the 1951 Paris Salon de l'Automobile but not sold until 1958. Owned by Bill Harrah and Nicolas Cage and now in the O'Quinn Collection since 2006.
1965 101506 Virgil Exner/Ghia roadster Ghia shortened the chassis by 46 cm (18 in). Currently owned by William Lyon.

Engine[1]

Model Year Engine Displacement Power Fuel system
T101 1951 straight-8 DOHC 16v 3257 cc 135 hp (101 kW) Single carburetor
T101C 1951 straight-8 DOHC 16v 3257 cc 190 hp (142 kW) Single carburetor, Roots supercharger

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Type 101". bugattipage.com. http://www.bugattipage.com/jacob/type/101.html. Retrieved 2009-07-19. 

External links