1938 Bugatti Type 57C Special Coupé
Jean Bugatti’s design leadership defined the Type 57 series from its 1934 introduction, and his elegant factory coachwork (including the Atalante, Ventoux, Stelvio, and Galibier sedan) appealed to clients who might otherwise have turned to independent coachbuilders.
The Type 57C (“C” for compresseur) debuted in 1936 with a supercharged version of the standard straight-eight engine, producing approximately 160 horsepower, along with a stiffened chassis and rubber-mounted engine installation for improved refinement.
The dual overhead camshaft inline eight-cylinder engine displaced 3,257cc (3.3 liters). Five main bearings supported the crankshaft, and helical gears at the rear of the engine drove the camshafts, with an additional bearing positioned behind them for durability.
Finger-type cam followers minimized side thrust on the valve stems. The four-speed gearbox was bolted directly to the engine’s crankcase and used a single-plate clutch, with the top three gears operating in constant mesh for smoother shifting.
By 1938, the Type 57C received several important updates, including Lockheed hydraulic brakes (replacing the earlier cable-operated system) and Rudge-Whitworth center-lock wire wheels with separate brake drums (marking a notable departure from traditional Bugatti practice).
These refinements improved both performance and drivability, making the late-production Type 57C among the most advanced and desirable of all prewar Bugattis.
Source
