I’ve always said I would kill to own a Bugatti. Perhaps not kill, certainly maim, undoubtedly insult, but no, not kill. Unattainable as they all are for me, I’m not interested in the modern-day Chirons, Veyrons or Bolides. My attraction has always been to the car that cemented the Bugatti name for all time, the Type 35. My ride or die Bugatti.
As to my fascination with the famous Type 35, this car defined an epoch, a time when the automobile was going from the horse and buggy stuff of Henry Ford to this, a masterpiece of cutting-edge design, incredible craftsmanship, and an elegance that defined both motor sports and the art deco era that ran from 1919 to 1939.
Designed by Ettore Bugatti, unveiled in 1924, the Type 35 won over 2500 victories during a very short 6 years of campaigning, scoring the Grand Prix Championship in 1926 after winning 351 races and setting 47 records in the prior two years. 100 years later and the Type 35 is still a legend in international motor sports.
I’ve seen them in the Petersen Museum here in Los Angeles, and very occasionally at a high-end concours and the Type 35 has a presence few other cars can match. Perusing the photos Bugatti sent, I’m now rethinking my earlier no-kill retraction.
FROM THE BUGATTI PRESS RELEASE:
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Bugatti’s most iconic car, the Type 35, Club Bugatti France organized a tour from Molsheim – the hometown of the brand – to Lyon where the legendary race car made its debut at the 1924 Grand Prix de Lyon. To kick off the journey, Bugatti invited the participants of the tour to its premises in Molsheim, where in 1909 Bugatti’s story began. Enthusiasts from around the globe converged upon the historic French town – the place founder Ettore Bugatti decided to settle in – for a once-in-a-lifetime experience commemorating a century of automotive excellence.
To pay homage to such a momentous anniversary, Bugatti Club France curated a special event that started in Molsheim on May 13 and concluded in Lyon on May 20. 49 classic cars took part– including 23 examples of the Type 35, among them one of the five cars that raced in 1924, and 12 additional Bugatti Grand Prix historic models comprising several Type 37 and 51.
“We are delighted to have brought together Bugatti enthusiasts from across the globe, traveling from nine countries, to celebrate the historic milestone of the Bugatti Type 35” said Olivier Bohin, organizer of the tour and member of the Club Bugatti France.
“For us to have been able to commence our specially curated event in Molsheim, where Ettore’s adventure first started, was simply the perfect way to start the experience. Connecting the past to the present is a value that is intrinsically important for both the Bugatti brand and Club Bugatti France, allowing for our guests to feel the connection and experience emotional moments that will last a lifetime.”