Hi all. While some of you may cringe at the thought, I am currently in the planning stages of building a recreation of the now famous Type 32 "tank" GP car. But there is a rub to it. I plan on running it as a "Special" in vintage racing events. The powerplant you ask? The trusty Austin 7!

Before I am flamed beyond recognition, please consider that there will be another one of these cars being actually run at events instead of languishing as a photo in a dusty book. It won't have an American V8, or (god forbid) a Honda motorcycle engine. It will still be a period-correct race car, built for a reasonable sum of money.

Thanks

Chris

Hello Chris,

Sounds like an interesting project. Please keep us updated on the progress. If info is needed I am sure there are people at the forum who can help you..

Regards,

Rivaaquarama

great project!!

Also take a look at Kelseys replica. He is building on the same principles as you are planning: Bugatti fun for a reasonable amount of money.

Oh, and you will not find any flaming here. I will do anything to keep the athmosphere as it is today: Friendly, helpful and enthousiast.

Your subject is slightly more simple than a type 35: No hollow axle, so you might even find something that is suitable. You choose the engine already, so that is simple. Will you use the gearbox as well? Wheels are standard Rudge, so not too complicated. So make a chassis, encapsulate this in the not too complicated bodywork, and get the engine running!

Good luck, keep us posted, and if you need any info, please let us know!

Oh, one thing: You are aware of the bad roadholding of the type 32?

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It's nice to know this is the place to be!

I also appreciate the large photo and tips. That is exactly what I am looking for.

Cheers,

Chris

I, like you, felt they would chop me up and eat me - that I may have violated the inner sanctum of the purists. They seem to me to be a great bunch of guys.

Not meaning to be rude but, why the "tank"? I have looked at many pictures of it and read about its adventures. Seems to have been one of Bugatti's less than stellar efforts.

Don't get me wrong - I applaud anybody who builds his dream. It is one of the greatest thrills in life. I actually dream of driving my T-35 at speed. Forget all that stuff about comfort, safety, or anything else related to rational thinking.

Good luck
William

One other nice thing: The type 32 has no firewall, so basicly you are sitting under the hood (bonnet), together with the engine. Nice...

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These "blueprints" may help you.

http://www.the-blueprints.com/index.php?blueprints/cars/bugatti/855/view/bugatti_type_32_tank/

Not sure on their accuracy, but may be better than nothing.

Kind Regards

SB

These are on the photo server as well:

Clickable:


The car might be accurate, but I guess the people are not. The type 32 is a remarkable small car, and the people should sit shoulder to shoulder in my opinion.

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I will remember to look there in future!

SB

"The car might be accurate, but I guess the people are not. The type 32 is a remarkable small car, and the people should sit shoulder to shoulder in my opinion."

When I first started to scale my T-35 project, I thought about just how small it really is. I still have difficulty understanding how Bugatti managed to design the thing in such a way that people could fit. I started noticing that the passengers (or mechanics) always seemed to be looking down the left side of the car as if they were checking something such as the left front wheel. Now, I know that they are being squeezed out the side because there is not enough room for two large men to sit side by side - shoulder to shoulder without one of them being pushed outside.

The "tank" looks to me to be one of the most uncomfortable cars to drive that has ever been built. The thought of racing one of them in the hot summer brings forth thoughts of Dante's Inferno.

I am not a skinny person, but I fitted in the Type 35 OK....well a couple of inches of my butt would have stopped the side pinching me slightly!

However, the footwell..................it is tiny and is the first car I have sat in where I did not have the first clue as to what pedals my size 11's were touching.

Perhaps a case for Nomex socks and no shoes?

Definately.

One other thing: Although I never sat in a type 35 or a type 32, the type 35 seating looks overwhelmingly comfortable compared to the bench in the type 32. Luckily the type 32 is small, so when driving together with your mechanic, at least you do not shift around... It is just a flat piece of steel (or wood) with a cushion on it.

Luckily Grand Prix races in those days only lasted 6 hours or so...

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Looks like it should be a lot of fun building. My T-35 project has become a labor of love. It is almost a rolling chassis now. My hope and goal is that it will not only look like a T-35 but behave like one as well.

I have a picture of a T-35B hanging on the wall that is upside down. It crashed during a race and (I'm told?) the driver excaped death although it is difficult for me to imagine how.

http://www.bugattibuilder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=175

Above are some more crashes. I do remember the up-side-down one, but cannot find it that quick.

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