I do not have copies of patent applications but it is likely that it was patented.It was very early for disc brakes,and even Jaguar had only just fitted them on the racecars.Jaguar of course did not design and make their own disc brakes.It is therefore quite creditworthy that Bugatti did such an advanced thing.I have the patterns for the drum brakes which Roland insisted should replace the discs on the T251.These are an amalgam of T57/101 parts.But heavily drilled for lightness.

Could anyone help me with good detailed photos of the various T252 /3 motors at Schlumpfs? I am still sorting out the original patterns which are very complicated.With four very similar all aluminium DOHC motors the patterns all look alike.

Try flickr.com then the group named "Bugatti type 251".

Thanks GCL but I need engine photos only and as detailed as possible of the T252/3

A reference about what was done with old wooden casting patterns. "They were used to hold doors open and other assorted duties." I have personally made several hundred wooden patterns. Some were made for replacement castings for some of the industrial and military equipment we have repaired or rebuilt at our business. Others were made for hobby projects such as my T-35 "replica" project. So, what to do with all those patterns when they have been used?

I had a bunch of them hanging on the wall in one of the shops and often people would ask what they were. Others thought they were some kind of art form. For some of them. I used small pieces of hardwood such as mahogany, walnut, bloodwood, padouk, and many other small scraps left over from other projects.

The two halves of the first differential housing pattern for my T-35 project, for example, ( it has since been rebuilt in three pieces), were sealed with urethane and are now used as serving bowls at parties. Two other old somewhat complicated patterns became the basis of a small table in my office which draws much curiosity as to what it actually is or was meant to be. Still, two others were used as the basis for a lamp made as a wedding gift for a friend which they seem to really enjoy.

Hi Lazarus

Quick question ; how far is the Schlumpf from your home and would they allow visitors enough access to take the photos you need? Perhaps you can offer to share your own research with them to sweeten the deal somewhat.

Come to think of it, I don't recall ever having seen a photo of the T251's engine, other than a few of the Schlumpf pair with their bonnets removed. No wait, isn't the T252/3 the small sportscar of which there is only one?

Good luck, as you can tell you'll need it.

Johan

What a helpful bunch you all are ! As "custodian" of the original Bugatti prototype patterns I shall not be using them to hold open doors.It is as far to my old house in england as it is to the schlumpf museum,who are happy to show me and allow photos.I had hoped that someone else had taken photos.There are some photos in the schlumpf book "Automobiles de Reve" but I need more and better.The T252 patterns are extraordinarily complex.I doubt if the original designer could sort them out.

First photo Type 3, new head on new block camdrive at rear.Second photo Type 2, new head on T251 block with mods to produce a four cylinder.If any kind person lives near Mullhouse and could get some detailed photos of these different motors.This would really help me to sort out the patterns.Schlumpfs only got two of the 4 different types!

Here are two interesting moulds.On the left is the front corebox for the T251 cylinder head.Notice the central boss for the gear which drives the two camshafts.To make a T252 [mark 1] head you take all the T251 patterns except this one on the left and add the corebox on the right.This has the two bosses for the chain sprockets.The head on my car has 252 mot 1 cast on,although the second two is stamped as is the 1.It originally read [cast on] 251 MOT 5.Internal disagreements between Colombo and the "old Guard" led to a change of head to accomodate coilsprings instead of hairpins.The quality of the pattern equipement is self evident.

Hi John,

You of course know these pages:
http://bugattirevue.com/revue15/four.htm
and

http://bugattirevue.com/revue16/four-2.htm

Photos were taken by myself, as far as I know these engines are not on show any longer at the Schlumpf museum.

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Am I missing something here? The pictures of the engines on this thread all appear to be 4 cylinder. As I recall, the three engines built for the type 251 were all eight cylinder dohc engines.

If I knew how to change the T251 to T252 I would ! But worry not the T251 has two T252 motors or the reverse if you prefer,The early T252 has half of a T251 motor.

Thank you I have these already but notice a couple of things in your revue,None of the T252 engines seem to have been supercharged.The T253 might have been but without the drawings it is impossible to say.The siamised inlet suggests blower.The T102 is definately nothing to do with T73.The T73 engine has four valves.The T73c uses the T73 motor.Small changes for the race car.

I think it is quite appropriate to show the first new Bugatti T251 block made in the original pattern equipment.This is the first time that a new T251 block has been cast since 1955.Over 50 years ago and in the 100 th aniversary year.Still a long way to go,but there is now a customer for a second new T251....This casting was done in LM4 to test the pattern equipment.The actual castings for the new engines will be as original in magnesium.

Does not look too bad, does it? Needs a lot of cleaning up and machining, but that is a different story.

What are your plans with this test casting?

Oh, about transverse 8 cyl engined cars: I just found a V16 which is transversally mounted. oes that count as well?

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Vive la Marque !!