57-402: The Bugatti Type 35 is an iconic race car design produced by Bugatti at their Molsheim premises between 1924 and 1930. It was extremely successful when raced by the factory works team. It was also bought by a diverse roster of privateer clientele from around the world. It pioneered the concept of a holistically conceived, race-ready car available for purchase. The arch/egg-shaped radiator
114-516: A Bugatti 35B, painted in what would become known as " British racing green ", he won the inaugural Monaco Grand Prix beating the heavily favoured Mercedes of the German driver, Rudolf Caracciola . Successful financially, Grover-Williams and his wife maintained a home in a fashionable district of Paris while owning a large house in the resort town of La Baule, Pays de la Loire , on the Bay of Biscay , which
171-439: A comeback under Roland Bugatti in the mid-1950s with the mid-engined Type 251 race car. Designed with help from Gioacchino Colombo , the car failed to perform to expectations and the company's attempts at automobile production were halted. In the 1960s, Virgil Exner designed a Bugatti as part of his " Revival Cars " project. A show version of this car was actually built by Ghia using the last Bugatti Type 101 chassis, and
228-644: A different place to live and work. Grover-Williams' work name with SOE was "Sebastian." His task for SOE was to create a "sleeper" cell called Chestnut which would prepare to take action against the German occupiers when ordered to do so by SOE. SOE's network in Paris was Autogyro , headed by Pierre de Vomécourt , but in April 1942 the Germans were destroying Autogyro and killing or imprisoning its members. SOE envisioned Chestnut as
285-552: A prototype large saloon called the EB112 in 1993. Perhaps the most famous Bugatti EB110 owner was seven-time Formula One World Champion racing driver Michael Schumacher who purchased an EB110 in 1994. Schumacher sold his EB110, which had been repaired after a severe 1994 crash, to Modena Motorsport, a Ferrari service and race preparation garage in Germany. By the time the EB110 came to market,
342-570: A replacement for Autogyro, but with the creation of the Prosper network later in 1942, the much smaller Chestnut network became a secondary network in Paris, devoting itself to storing arms for the eventual use of the French resistance against the German occupiers. Grover-Williams recruited two fellow race-car drivers, Robert Benoist and Jean-Pierre Wimille , into his network and the trio used their wives and other women as couriers. The base of their operations
399-446: A sophisticated roller bearing system, numbering five in total. This allowed the engine to rev to 6,000 rpm. Output was up to 90 hp (67 kW). The cable-operated drum brakes system was very popular and adaptable. Alloy wheels were a novelty, as was the hollow front axle for reduced unsprung weight . Another feature of the Type 35 that was to become a Bugatti trademark was passing
456-452: A turning point in the company's fortunes as he died while testing a Type 57 tank-bodied race car near the Molsheim factory. World War II left the Molsheim factory in ruins and the company lost control of the property. During the war, Bugatti planned a new factory at Levallois, a northwestern suburb of Paris. After the war, Bugatti designed and planned to build a series of new cars, including
513-553: Is emblematic, as is the rear of the car. The tapered stern has been called a 'Bordino tail' and Ettore Bugatti may have been influenced by the shape of the earlier Fiat 804 driven and modified by Pietro Bordino . The car has also become synonymous with being the first to use cast alloy wheels . The Type 35 was phenomenally successful, winning over 1,000 races in its time. It took the Grand Prix World Championship in 1926 after winning 351 races and setting 47 records in
570-472: The 24 hours of Le Mans twice (in 1937 with Robert Benoist and in 1939 with Pierre Veyron ). Bugatti cars were extremely successful in racing. The little Bugatti Type 10 swept the top four positions at its first race. The 1924 Bugatti Type 35 is one of the most successful racing cars - developed by Bugatti with master engineer and racing driver Jean Chassagne who also drove it in the car's first ever Grand Prix in 1924 Lyon. Bugattis swept to victory in
627-627: The B Engineering company and designed and built the Edonis using the chassis and engine from the Bugatti EB110 SS, but simplifying the turbocharging system and driveline (from 4WD to 2WD). Volkswagen Group acquired the Bugatti brand in 1998. Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. commissioned Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign to produce Bugatti Automobiles's first concept vehicle, the EB118 , a coupé that debuted at
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#1732852418048684-838: The Bugatti Veyron . The Chiron was first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1, 2016. In February 2024, Bugatti announced the successor to the Chiron, which will use a V16 hybrid-electric powertrain . In June 2024 the successor was confirmed as the Bugatti Tourbillon . 48°31′32″N 07°30′01″E / 48.52556°N 7.50028°E / 48.52556; 7.50028 William Grover-Williams William Charles Frederick Grover-Williams (born William Charles Frederick Grover , 16 January 1903 – 18 March 1945 (or shortly thereafter)), also known as "W Williams" ,
741-510: The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 (the 1001 PS super car with an 8-litre W-16 engine with four turbochargers) in September 2005 at the Bugatti Molsheim , France assembly "studio". On 23 February 2015, Bugatti sold its last Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, which was named La Finale. The Bugatti Chiron is a mid-engined , two-seated sports car, designed by Achim Anscheidt, developed as the successor to
798-529: The Lamborghini Miura and Lamborghini Countach . The first production vehicle was the Bugatti EB110 GT which featured a 3.5-litre, 5-valve per cylinder, quad- turbocharged 60° V12 engine , a six-speed gearbox , and four-wheel drive . Stanzani proposed an aluminium honeycomb chassis, which was used for all early prototypes. He and president Artioli clashed over engineering decisions so Stanzani left
855-466: The Targa Florio for five years straight from 1925 through 1929. Louis Chiron held the most podiums in Bugatti cars, and the modern marque revival Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. named the 1999 Bugatti 18/3 Chiron concept car in his honour. But it was the final racing success at Le Mans that is most remembered—Jean-Pierre Wimille and Pierre Veyron won the 1939 race with just one car and meagre resources. In
912-568: The Type 35 Grand Prix cars, the Type 41 "Royale" , the Type 57 "Atlantic" and the Type 55 sports car. The death of Ettore Bugatti in 1947 proved to be a severe blow to the marque , and the death of his son Jean in 1939 meant that there was no successor to lead the factory with no more than about 8,000 cars made. The company struggled financially, and it released one last model in the 1950s before eventually being purchased for its airplane parts business in 1963. In 1987, an Italian entrepreneur bought
969-626: The United Kingdom . After the war, Frederick Grover moved the family to Monte Carlo . It was there that William developed a fascination for automobiles, having been taught to drive a Rolls-Royce by his sister's boyfriend. Grover-Williams passed his driving test while in Monaco and was granted a licence . Mechanically inclined and fascinated by motorised vehicles, at the age of 15 Grover-Williams acquired an Indian motorcycle and it became his pride and joy. He would later compete in motorcycle races in
1026-512: The Versailles Treaty formalised the transfer of Alsace from Germany to France, Bugatti was able to obtain, at the last minute, a stand at the 15th Paris motor show in October 1919. He exhibited three light cars, all of them closely based on their pre-war equivalents, and each fitted with the same overhead camshaft 4-cylinder 1,368cc engine with four valves per cylinder. Smallest of the three
1083-653: The 1930s, Ettore Bugatti got involved in the creation of a racer airplane , hoping to beat the Germans in the Deutsch de la Meurthe prize . This would be the Bugatti 100P , which never flew. It was designed by Belgian engineer Louis de Monge who had already applied Bugatti Brescia engines in his "Type 7.5" lifting body. Ettore Bugatti also designed a successful motorised railcar, the Autorail Bugatti . The death of Ettore Bugatti's son, Jean Bugatti , on 11 August 1939 marked
1140-675: The 1998 Paris Auto Show . The EB118 concept featured a 408- kilowatt (555 PS ; 547 bhp ), W-18 engine. After its Paris debut, the EB118 concept was shown again in 1999 at the Geneva Auto Show and the Tokyo Motor Show . Bugatti introduced its next concepts, the EB 218 at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show and the 18/3 Chiron at the 1999 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. began assembling its first regular-production vehicle,
1197-504: The Bugatti brand in 1987, and established Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. . Artioli commissioned architect Giampaolo Benedini to design the factory which was built in Campogalliano , Modena, Italy. Construction of the plant began in 1988, alongside the development of the first model, and it was inaugurated two years later—in 1990. By 1989, the plans for the new Bugatti revival were presented by Paolo Stanzani and Marcello Gandini , designers of
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#17328524180481254-427: The EB110 were greatly refined by Dauer. The Campogalliano factory was sold to a furniture-making company, which became defunct prior to moving in, leaving the building unoccupied. After Dauer stopped producing cars in 2011, Toscana-Motors GmbH of Germany purchased the remaining parts stock from Dauer. Ex vice-president Jean-Marc Borel and ex-employees Federico Trombi, Gianni Sighinolfi and Nicola Materazzi established
1311-672: The French Croix de Guerre , Grover-Williams was also recommended for an Order of the British Empire by the head of the SOE, Major-General Colin Gubbins , in September 1945, but when it became clear that he had died the honour was not awarded. The Saboteur , a 2009 video game, features an Irish protagonist named Sean Devlin who is inspired by Grover-Williams. A statue of Grover-Williams in his 1929 Monaco Grand Prix-winning Bugatti Type 35
1368-615: The North American and European economies were in recession . Poor economic conditions caused the company to fail and operations ceased in September 1995. A model specific to the US market called the "Bugatti America" was in the preparatory stages when the company ceased operations. Bugatti's liquidators sold Lotus Cars to Proton of Malaysia. German firm Dauer Racing purchased the EB110 licence and remaining parts stock in 1997 in order to produce five more EB110 SS vehicles. These five SS versions of
1425-595: The SOE's Chestnut network which worked near Paris. The Chestnut network organised parachute drops of weapons and equipment from SOE and stockpiled them for the use of the resistance. The German Sicherheitsdienst (SD) captured Grover-Williams in August 1943. He was imprisoned and executed in March 1945. Grover-Williams was born in Montrouge , Hauts-de-Seine , France on 16 January 1903 to Frederick and Hermance Grover. Frederick Grover
1482-498: The Type 35 was not a success due to fitment of badly- vulcanised Dunlop tyres. Despite this, the model showed promise and became increasingly competitive with refinements being made. The car used an evolution of the three-valve 1,991 cc (121.5 cu in) overhead cam straight-eight engine first seen on the Type 29 . Bore was and stroke was of 60 mm × 88 mm (2.36 in × 3.46 in) as on many previous Bugatti models. This new powerplant featured
1539-549: The Type 73 road car and Type 73C single seat racing car, but in all Bugatti built only five Type 73 cars. Development of a 375 cc supercharged car was stopped when Ettore Bugatti died on 21 August 1947. Following his death, the business declined further and made its last appearance as a business in its own right at a Paris Motor Show in October 1952. After a long decline, the original incarnation of Bugatti ceased operations in 1952. Bugatti models are known to focus on design. Engine blocks were hand scraped to ensure that
1596-402: The axle, a much more elegant solution requiring fewer parts. Bugatti himself described his competitor Bentley 's cars as "the world's fastest lorries" for focusing on durability. According to Bugatti, "weight was the enemy". Relatives of Harold Carr found a rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante when cataloguing the doctor's belongings after his death in 2009. Carr's Type 57S is notable because it
1653-467: The bore of the engine to 51.3 mm. Bugatti Automobiles Ettore Bugatti was a German then French manufacturer of high-performance automobiles . The company was founded in 1909 in the then- German city of Molsheim , Alsace , by the Italian-born industrial designer Ettore Bugatti . The cars were known for their design beauty and numerous race victories. Famous Bugatti automobiles include
1710-595: The brand name and revived it as Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. A movie about the founding of the French car manufacturer Bugatti is being produced by Andrea Iervolino with the film slated for release in 2025. The founder Ettore Bugatti was born in Milan , Italy, and the automobile company that bears his name was founded in 1909 in Molsheim located in the Alsace region which was part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1919. The company
1767-621: The collapse of Aupicq's relationship with Orpen, the pair married in November 1929. She was six years older than him. By 1926, Grover-Williams had begun racing a Bugatti in races throughout France, using the alias, "W Williams", entering the Grand Prix de Provence at Miramas and the Monte Carlo Rally . In 1928, he won the French Grand Prix , repeating in 1929. That same year, driving
Bugatti Type 35 - Misplaced Pages Continue
1824-516: The crankshaft (for ease of maintenance), smaller valves, and coil ignition like the Type 30 , it was normally delivered on regular wire-spoked wheels. 139 examples of the Type 35A were produced. Bugatti introduced a special model for the 1926 Targa Florio race with engine displacement set to 2,262 cc (138.0 cu in) with a longer 100 mm (3.9 in) stroke; the car could not be used for Grands Prix due to rules limiting capacity to 2.0 litres. 13 T35Ts were produced. The Type 35C
1881-562: The early 1920s, although he kept it secret from his family by adopting the pseudonym, "W Williams". In 1919, the Irish portrait painter, William Orpen became the official artist of the Paris Peace Conference . Orpen bought a Rolls-Royce car and hired Grover-Williams, who had returned to Paris, as his chauffeur . At the time, Orpen had a mistress and model named Yvonne Aupicq. Aupicq and Grover-Williams became good friends and, after
1938-527: The inaugural 1929 Monaco Grand Prix . While having more torque, the Type 35B did not rev as high and engine fuel consumption levels were such that the factory reverted to producing the T35C. Around 37 Type 35B were produced. The Type 37 sports car used the same chassis and bodywork as the full-power Type 35, but were mostly delivered with wire wheels. Fitted with a new 1.5 litre (1,496 cc, 91 cu in) straight-4 engine (69 mm x 100 mm), it
1995-651: The official War Office casualty lists, originally "On or shortly after 1.2.1945" has been amended to read "On or shortly after 18.3.1945", while the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records the date simply as 18 March 1945. After the war, Grover-Williams' widow, Yvonne, eventually settled in the village of Amfreville-la-Campagne in Normandy where she managed a dog kennel breeding terriers . She died in 1973, age 77. Robert Benoist's granddaughter, among others, claimed that William Grover-Williams survived
2052-798: The project and Artioli sought Nicola Materazzi to replace him in June 1990. Materazzi, who had been the chief designer for the Ferrari 288 GTO and Ferrari F40 replaced the aluminium chassis with a carbon fibre one manufactured by Aerospatiale and also altered the torque distribution of the car from 40:60 to 27:73. He remained Director until late 1992. Racing car designer Mauro Forghieri served as Bugatti's technical director from 1993 through 1994. On 27 August 1993, through his holding company, ACBN Holdings S.A. of Luxembourg , Romano Artioli purchased Lotus Cars from General Motors . Plans were made to list Bugatti shares on international stock exchanges. Bugatti presented
2109-520: The springs through the front axle rather than simply U-bolting them together as was done on their earlier cars. 96 of these un-supercharged T35 examples were produced. A mechanically simpler version of the Type 35 appeared in May 1925. Intended for road use while retaining the 'racing look', several were raced anyway and with some success. The public nicknamed the model "Tecla" after a famous maker of imitation jewellery. The Tecla's engine used plain bearings on
2166-399: The surfaces were flat so that gaskets were not required for sealing, and many of the exposed surfaces of the engine compartment featured guilloché finishes on them. Safety wires were threaded through most fasteners in intricately laced patterns. Rather than bolt the springs to the axles as most manufacturers did, Bugatti's axles were forged such that the spring passed through an opening in
2223-421: The two prior years. At its height the Type 35 averaged 14 race wins per week. Bugatti won the Targa Florio for five consecutive years, from 1925 through 1929, with the Type 35. The Bugatti Type 35 was continually being modified and improved upon, but broadly falls into the following nomenclature: This original, defining model was introduced at the 1924 French Grand Prix , held at Lyon. The inaugural outing for
2280-673: The victory by Nazi Germany in the Battle of France . Due to his fluency in both French and English, he was recruited into the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in autumn 1940. SOE trained him to be an agent and promoted him from private to second lieutenant. On 29 May 1942, Grover-Williams and another SOE agent, Christopher Burney , parachuted "blind" (with no reception committee on the ground) into France near Le Mans . Grover-Williams proceeded to Paris where he reunited with his wife, Yvonne, but, for security reasons, he found himself
2337-602: The war and lived with Yvonne from 1948 until her death under the assumed identity of "Georges Tambal." Tambal was killed by a German driver while riding a bicycle in 1983. Grover-Williams is recorded on the Brookwood Memorial in Surrey , England, and as one of the SOE agents who died for the liberation of France, he is listed on the Valençay SOE Memorial 's Roll of Honour in the French town of Valençay . Awarded
Bugatti Type 35 - Misplaced Pages Continue
2394-508: Was a " Type 13 " with a racing body (constructed by the Bugatti themselves) and using a chassis with a 2,000 mm (78.7 in) wheelbase. The others were a " Type 22 " and a " Type 23 " with wheelbases of 2,250 and 2,400 mm (88.6 and 94.5 in) respectively. The company also enjoyed great success in early Grand Prix motor racing : in 1929, a privately entered Bugatti won the first ever Monaco Grand Prix . Bugatti's racing success culminated with driver Jean-Pierre Wimille winning
2451-691: Was a British Grand Prix motor racing driver. He is best known for winning the first Monaco Grand Prix . During World War II, Grover-Williams, code named Sebastian, worked as an agent in France for the clandestine British Special Operations Executive (SOE) organization. SOE's objectives were to conduct espionage, sabotage, and reconnaissance in countries occupied by the Axis powers, especially those occupied by Nazi Germany . SOE agents allied themselves with French resistance groups and supplied them with weapons and equipment. Grover-Williams created, coordinated, and led
2508-596: Was also able to organize an effective sabotage effort at the Citroën factory in Paris. Grover-Williams' downfall began 31 July 1943 when a German direction-finding van pinpointed the location of Dowlen and his radio and arrested him. On 1 August, Maurice Benoist, brother of Robert, was arrested. The next day Maurice Benoist led the German Sicherheitsdienst (SD) to the Benoist chateau at Auffargis . Grover-Williams
2565-568: Was an English horse breeder who had settled in Montrouge. Frederick met a French woman, Hermance Dagan, and they were soon married. Their first child was Elizabeth, born in 1897. William had two other siblings – Alice and Frédéric. Born to an English father and a French mother, Grover-Williams grew up fluent in both French and English . When William was eleven, during World War I , his parents sent him to live with relatives in Hertfordshire , in
2622-483: Was charging 91,500 French francs for the Type 35C. French pilot Guy Bouriat bought two in March 1929. Approximately 45 examples left the factory. Named by the factory "Type 35TC" (Targa Compressor), this most powerful version became known colloquially as the "T35B". It shared the 2.3 litre engine of the Type 35T this time with a large supercharger added. Output was 138 bhp (103 kW). A British Racing Green Type 35B driven by William Grover-Williams won
2679-407: Was easier to maintain for many privateer drivers. This engine was a SOHC three-valve design and produced 60 bhp (45 kW). The same engine went on to be used in the Type 40 . Around 223 Type 37s were built. The supercharged Type 37A enabled engine output to reach 60–67 kW (80–90 bhp). It also had larger shrouded brake drums. Around 67 Type 37As were produced. The Type 39
2736-530: Was forbidden. Contrary to that policy, Agazarian transmitted Chestnut's messages to London. Starting in mid-February, Grover-Williams organized with SOE six parachute drops of weapons and other supplies for the French resistance . In March 1943, SOE finally sent Grover-Williams a radio operator of his own, Roland Dowlen. The arms and other supplies the Chestnut network had received were stored for future use. Grover-Williams
2793-459: Was found hiding in a stable and arrested. The Germans recovered many containers of arms and equipment at the chateau. The Germans captured Robert Benoist on 4 August, but he escaped. When Grover-William's wife, Yvonne, learned of his arrest, she fled Paris and took refuge with friends in the village of Thorenc . After his capture, the Germans took Grover-Williams to SD headquarters at 84 Avenue Foch in Paris for interrogation. In January 1944, he
2850-552: Was home to one of the annual Grand Prix races. In 1931, he won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps . He also won the Grand Prix de la Baule in three consecutive years (1931 to 1933). He retired from racing in 1933. On 28 February 1940, Grover-Williams enlisted in the British Royal Army Service Corps and worked as a driver in France. In June 1940, he was evacuated from Dunkirk to England after
2907-405: Was introduced in 1926 and featured a Roots supercharger , despite Ettore Bugatti 's disdain for forced induction . Output was nearly 128 bhp (95 kW) with a single Zenith carburettor . The Type 35C came first and second during its first race outing at the 1926 Milan Grand Prix held at Monza . This 2.0-litre supercharged configuration continued to be very dependable. In 1929, Bugatti
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#17328524180482964-495: Was known both for the level of detail of its engineering in its automobiles, and for the artistic manner in which the designs were executed, given the artistic nature of Ettore's family (his father, Carlo Bugatti (1856–1940), was an important Art Nouveau furniture and jewelry designer). During the war Ettore Bugatti was sent away, initially to Milan and later to Paris, but as soon as hostilities had been concluded he returned to his factory at Molsheim. Less than four months after
3021-597: Was originally owned by British race car driver Earl Howe. Because much of the car's original equipment is intact, it can be restored without relying on replacement parts. On 10 July 2009, a 1925 Bugatti Brescia Type 22 which had lain at the bottom of Lake Maggiore on the border of Switzerland and Italy for 75 years was recovered from the lake. The Mullin Museum in Oxnard, California bought it at auction for $ 351,343 at Bonham's Rétromobile sale in Paris in 2010. The company attempted
3078-641: Was sent to Berlin and imprisoned at the Reich Security Office , notorious for the tortures committed on prisoners. In March 1944 he was transferred to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp . In March 1945, the Nazi government decreed "special treatment" for a list of political prisoners, including Grover-Williams. Grover-Williams was executed at Sachsenhausen in the spring of 1945, along with fellow SOE network leader Francis Suttill . The date of death shown on
3135-509: Was shown at the 1965 Turin Motor Show . Finance was not forthcoming, and Exner then turned his attention to a revival of Stutz . Bugatti continued manufacturing airplane parts and was sold to Hispano-Suiza , also a former auto maker turned aircraft supplier, in 1963. Snecma took over Hispano-Suiza in 1968. After acquiring Messier , Snecma merged Messier and Bugatti into Messier-Bugatti in 1977. Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli acquired
3192-418: Was similar to the Type 35 except for the engine crankshaft, modified to produce a smaller 1.5 litre (1,493 cc, 91 cu in). Stroke was down from 88 mm to 66 mm, and a mix of plain and roller bearings were used in the crank. 10 examples were produced (some being supercharged (Type 39A)). A single 1.1 litre (1,092 cc, 67 cu in) version was also created by reducing
3249-681: Was the Benoist family estate near Auffargis about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Paris . Grover-Williams' main problem was that SOE did not supply him with a radio operator for communications with SOE headquarters in London. This problem was partially solved in January 1943 when Grover-Williams established contact with Jack Agazarian , the newly arrived radio operator for the Prosper Network. SOE policy dictated that each network should have its own radio operator and that contact between and among networks
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