1927 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix Two-Seater
A Roots-type supercharger elevated Ettore Bugatti’s already successful Type 35 design to its ultimate development when the Type 35B appeared in 1927.
The distinctive horseshoe radiator grille and tapered boat-tail bodywork created an instantly recognizable silhouette.
Racing success came quickly. William Grover-Williams drove a Type 35B to victory in the inaugural 1929 Monaco Grand Prix, and similar cars won the Monaco, French, and Spanish Grands Prix during the 1930 season. The broader Type 35 family accumulated well over 1,000 victories and secured the World Championship for Manufacturers in 1926.
The 2.3-liter straight-eight engine with five plain main bearings produced approximately 135 horsepower, fed through a four-speed manual transmission to a chassis featuring a hollow front axle and cast alloy wheels that became Bugatti trademarks.
Single overhead camshaft actuation controlled three valves per cylinder, while semi-elliptical leaf springs at the front and quarter-elliptic springs at the rear provided suspension.
Top speed reached approximately 130 mph despite a weight of about 1,650 pounds (750 kg). Production remained limited, with roughly 37 Type 35B examples built through 1930.
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