Descrizione
The Bugatti Type35/ Type37 is one of the most iconic and collectable cars in the world. Original cars fetch £1m+ on the rare occasions that they come up for sale.
The Type 37 was the sports version of the Grand Prix car, using the Type 35 chassis and bodywork. Only 290 Type 37s were built.
This T37 replica is one of the very few that are dimensionally correct.
Even the chassis has been made to the same dimensions as the original, so the car is able to be fitted with replacement T35/ T37 hand-beaten aluminium bodywork. This, and the correct angle of the front wheels, explains why the car looks so 'right' even close up.
Original T37's came with a four cylinder 1500cc engine and wire wheels. This car comes with a four-cylinder 1400cc engine and wire wheels. The comparative efficiency of the 1400cc engine gives the car a near-identical power-to-weight ratio as the original.
The replica is the result of seven years’ work to recreate a vehicle that looks, behaves and drives as closely to an original T37 as possible for a fraction of the cost.
The car is made from a combination of:
1. Original, fully restored parts -
Including the signature pair of late 1920s Marchal headlamps that have been re-silvered and rewired by Vintage Headlamp Restoration of Sheffield; 1920s Bugatti threaded wheel caps engraved with clockwise and counter-clockwise arrows, ‘Droit’ and ‘Gauche’; Jaeger Paris clock restored by Green Horologists of Farnham; Jaeger Paris speedometer case, needle and dial card and rev counter case, needle and dial card from Vintage Restorations of Tunbridge Wells, etc; plus other original cosmetic parts including brass ammeter, black-faced fuel gauge, etc.
2. New hand-made parts reflecting original T37 specifications -
Including the chassis, suspension and front axle, radiator cowl and grille, oil ‘pump’, fuel pump handle, advance/ retard lever, engine-turned aluminium dashboard, engine cover, gearbox cover, ‘antique’ burgundy leather seats, etc.
3. Reconditioned parts -
Including MG running gear that provides a similar 1. 4 litre power-to-weight ratio to the Bugatti original (with its heavier 1496cc engine), also giving the car a ‘G’ registration and therefore legal entitlement to display black and white number plates in the UK, etc.
4. Replacement parts that would be fitted to an original T37 if required -
Including hand-beaten aluminium body panels by Bugatti specialist Ivan Dutton; eight-piece French walnut and nickel plated aluminium steering wheel, red silicone sheet for the rubber that goes under the aero screen, cross-hatch aluminium pedals, enamel radiator badge, brass pressure gauge ‘huile’, brass pressure gauge ‘essence’, aluminium pump handle, aluminium starting handle grip, various nuts, bolts and grease nipples -all from the Bugatti Owners Club spares department; tyres by Longland, etc.
The dashboard is laid out in classic T37 configuration: fuel pump handle on extreme left; clock above oil and fuel pressure gauges on the left hand side; rev counter and speedometer in the centre, either side of the advance/ retard lever and switches; steering wheel on the right; and, like most genuine T37s, additional personal choice gauges and switches on the extreme right.
The car is painted black with a small amount of matting agent over pale ‘Gulf Oil’ blue, which means that it will quickly acquire the patina and ‘worn’ look of an original T37. (This could be accelerated by rubbing with a slightly abrasive sponge or cloth.)
The front forks have three BOC Bugatti bolts on either side, replicating the original; the end caps are made with genuine BOC Bugatti grease nipples; the stainless steel starting handle is a rare finishing touch not usually found on T37 replicas.
The authentic appearance and feel of the car is the result of seven years’ work: thousands of hours of labour, research, experimentation, investment, visits to museums and events, plus the invaluable assistance of knowledgeable specialists and skilled craftsmen. The help of the Bugatti Owners Club in creating this vehicle is gratefully appreciated.
This Bugatti Type 37 replica is IVA’d, MOT’d and road registered.
