History of Bugatti - Part #1

History of Bugatti PT#1 | The Bad Blonde Car History Naturally we start our tale with the man behind the brand, Ettore Bugatti. An engineering talent that would go on to build one the most revered luxury car brand of it’s day. Though this story would be plagued with setbacks and tragedy. Early on it was clear Ettore’s talent steered more toward engineering and mechanics. At an early age he was able to comprehend complex designs. His father took note one day after Ettore repaired a broken tricycle, and helped foster that with apprenticeship at Prinetti & Stucchi a sewing machine and bicycle manufacturer when Ettore was just 17. Soon after Ettore would create his own motorized tricycle to enter into a competition from Paris to Boreaux. This Motor Tricycle was powered by two engines of the De Dion Company. The De Dion company is a prestigious name you hear through out automotive history. They were a prolific part supplier to many of the burgeoning early automotive manufactures around the turn of the century and after. His apprenticeship would open up to Ettore the world of engineering, automobiles, and speed. At the young age of 19, Ettore left his apprenticeship and set out to create his own automobile. Soon his skills would catch the attention of the De Deitrich company, he was soon hired on to design vehicles for them. He was only 19 when he received his first professional contract with De Deitrich. In 1903 for the Paris to Madrid race, Ettore would build a car so ahead of it’s time that it was rejected from the race. With this car, he placed the driver and the engine lower in the chassis, better for aerodynamics and center of gravity, a practice that was revolutionary at the time. He received harsh criticism and speculation from this. As popular, for the times was being seated higher in the automobile. understanding. Ettore Bugatti created the Bugatti Type 10 in 1909. Powered by a 1.2 liter 4 cylinder engine weighing in at 365kg which is essentially 804lbs and could reach 80km/per hour. An impressive feat for the time. With the success and confidence of the type 10, Ettore would establish Automobiles Ettore Bugatti in Molsheim, France. That location would go on to prove quite tragic for him after the war. Ettore was one of the first for many principles that are still used in today’s manufacturing, along with his beliefs on lightness, he also heavily believed in using racing success to drive sales. “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday” With many wins under the Bugatti belt, he quickly became known as one of the best car designers in the country. All within the same year, he completed the groundbreaking type 10, founded his automobile company, and celebrated the birth of his only son Jean. Jean Bugatti would go on to be an incredibly talented automobile designer taken too soon by tragedy. Ettore was already ready for progress and would soon release the Bugatti Type 13. The Type 13 would take second place in the 1911 grand prix, garnering much attention and solidifying the Bugatti name in racing and automobiles. Unfortunately soon the entire world would come to a stop when WWI broke out, just like many other manufacturers Bugatti stopped production and redirected to war efforts. During this time, Ettore would work with the Duesenberg Brothers on the dramatic U-16 engine. The U-16 was essentially two straight line engines sharing a crank case. The engine did not catch on particularly well BUT it did lead to the creation of overhead camshaft and straight 8 engine designs. After the war ended, Bugatti went back to his factory, improved his type 13 engine and went on to win the 1920 lemans, 1921 Brescia, and continued to garner so many victories that the type 13 1924 Bugatti introduced the type 35, which would go on to win 1000 races and become Bugatti’s most successful race car. It was in 1926 Bugatti would introduce it’s first luxury vehicle, the type 41 Bugatti Royale. The Royal was the longest car of it’s time, and likely the most luxurious. Before their focus had mainly been on race vehicles. The costumers of the Royale were selected, only the most notable were chosen, kings, counts, and that is how it became known at the Royale. Post great depression, Bugatti would be back on track. Jean Bugatti was running the factory and making his own successful impression on the company. He was skilled just as his father and had a vision for Bugatti. Under him, he lead the company into the luxury car market and produced the famous Bugatti Atlantic, Royale, and the type 57G In 1937 and 1939, they would win 2 lemans in the Bugatti type 57G aka Tank. I was fortunate to see a type 57g at the Simeone Automotive Foundation Museum. In June of 1939, tragedy struck.. Jean Bugatti organized a road test with the Le Mans winning Type 57G. Jean was a hands on engineer and got behind the wheel, somehow a cyclist got on this closed track and to miss him Jean swerved, striking a tree and dying on impact.