Bugatti Type 101
Encyclopedia
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.
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
.
Bugatti
Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti....
, a new car was needed for the 1950s. The result was the 1951 Type 101. An evolution of the Type 57
Bugatti Type 57
The Bugatti Type 57 and later variants was an entirely new design by Jean Bugatti, son of founder Ettore. Type 57s were built from 1934 through 1940, with a total of 710 examples produced....
, 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
Straight-8
The straight-eight engine or inline-eight engine is an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine with all eight cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
from the Type 57. The seven chassis were bodied by four different coachbuilders:Gangloff, Guillore, Antem, and Virgil Exner
Virgil Exner
Virgil Max "Ex" Exner, Sr. was an automobile designer for numerous American companies, notably Chrysler and Studebaker. He is known for his "Forward Look" design on the 1955-1963 Chrysler products and his fondness of fins on cars for both aesthetic and aerodynamic reasons.-Early life:Born in Ann...
/Ghia.
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
Virgil Exner
Virgil Max "Ex" Exner, Sr. was an automobile designer for numerous American companies, notably Chrysler and Studebaker. He is known for his "Forward Look" design on the 1955-1963 Chrysler products and his fondness of fins on cars for both aesthetic and aerodynamic reasons.-Early life:Born in Ann...
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
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is an automotive charitable event held each year on the Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California, considered the most prestigious event of its kind. It is the finale of a week long festival of classic cars events in the Monterey area every year...
.
| 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 Delahaye Delahaye automobile manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye in 1894, in Tours, France. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company.-History:... . 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 Nicolas Cage Nicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and... and now in the O'Quinn Collection since 2006. |
| 1965 | 101506 | Virgil Exner/Ghia roadster | Ghia shortened the chassis by 46 cm (18.1 in). Currently owned by William Lyon. |
Engine
| Model | Year | Engine | Displacement | Power | Fuel system |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T101 | 1951 | straight-8 Straight-8 The straight-eight engine or inline-eight engine is an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine with all eight cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... DOHC 16v |
3257 cc | 135 hp | Single carburetor Carburetor A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom.... |
| T101C | 1951 | straight-8 DOHC 16v | 3257 cc | 190 hp | Single carburetor Carburetor A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom.... , Roots supercharger |