Has anyone ever seen an original GP Bugatti battery? I have always hated the need to cut a hole in the undertray to fit an available modern battery.Please do not talk to me about drycell modern racing batteries,this is not the issue.I asked Jack Lemon-Burton this question some years ago.He was surprised that the disapearance of the correct style batteries had gone unnoticed [ certainly by him ] and he told me that the original batteries were not so tall,but were wider,and a grey colour.More or less square in shape.About five inches high.So has anyone ever seen one? Did they fit other models? and most importantly does any company still make this sort of battery?

I am quite surprised that nobody seems to know what seems a simple answer ! Everything is known about the GP Bugatti's except this.

Maybe you better ask for the chassis numbers of GP cars , and not technical questions .
Something like a battery is to difficult . The Forums name is Bugattibuilder , Bugatti-Builder . Why builder ? How many show anything about building ? You, Nicefloor , me ....

Now now Udo don't be naughty ! There are TWO "O" s in TOO.To climb a mountain is TOO difficult,end of english lesson !

Why get all heated up? In my opinion genuine G.P. Bugattis did not even have a battery as standard fitting. Ignition by magneto and startig on the handle.

It seems Lazarus (who is selling a collection of Autorail models on Ebay, by the way) was posing a trick question. Ignition by magneto, no battery at all for the real GP's.

_________________
www.BugattiPage.com
www.BugattiRevue.com
www.BugattiAircraft.com

It is, as you know, not a trick question.Bugatti made other GP's than T35B's with magneto's.There were all the normal ignition T37's and what battery was used on any GP's with starters? I use GP as the generic term for the entire range.So it does seem that there is something that the Bugatti experts do not know.

A type 37 is NOT a Grand Prix but a Sports car as shown in Bugattis own catalogue

So you don't know what battery was fitted into a T37 Bugatti with battery ignition?

Unfortunately I did not keep all technical cataloques from the fifties so I can not verify but I am certain that low profile batteries were available then that would fit under the seat in a GP. (130mm)
I guess today 170mm is about the lowest you can get. That is why a dry racing type battery is used by anyone who wants a starter motor without modifying the floor and I do not see a single reason not to use these.
I use a 16AH motorcycle battery fitted under the tubular X-member behind the seats in my T37 but of course I start her on the handle.
How do the "look-a-like" manufacturers from Argentina solve this problem?
Bugwrench

PS. Udolahr would be amazed if he knew how much technical knowledge is available on this Forum. He just seems to lack the ability to untap it! It is all about manners.

Well I had expected a sensible answer from Bugwrench,and here it is.According to JLB the batteries were grey in colour.I am aware of all the possible ways around the problem today but that is not what I wanted to know ! So I need to find old catalogues to get the sizes available at that time.

I did not search for long, and I have to admit not much is to be found, surprisingly, but this might get you started:

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/vintage-batteries.htm

As for a practical point of view: I guess if you want the smaller size, you could team up some motorcycle batteries, or use LiFePO4 batteries. (don't be tempted to use LiOn, these might set on fire)

_________________
Vive la Marque !!

Are you sugesting that I knock up a dovetailed oak box and build a battery? If it was known for sure that that is what Bugatti used,then people would have already made them ! But thanks for the site it is interesting.