1934 will go down in automotive history as a turning point for Bugatti, when the famous brand revealed the incredible Type 57, a work of art that unintentionally ended the company’s legacy of using only French designs. Ettore Bugatti, the brand’s patriarchal head, was at the center of this revolutionary design. But at the time, he was completely focused on developing petrol-powered rail cars for the French government.
A significant change in Bugatti’s design heritage was ushered in when Ettore gave his 23-year-old son, Jean Bugatti, the responsibility of creating the company’s most recent high-performance Gran Routier.
Teaming up with engineers Pichetto and Domboy, the young Jean Bugatti embarked on a meticulous journey to formulate the specifications of the Type 57. Every detail, from the chassis to the engine and factory body designs, bore the mark of Jean’s visionary approach. The result was a car that not only met the high standards set by Bugatti but also introduced a new chapter in the brand’s evolution.
At the heart of the Type 57 was a groundbreaking twin-cam, inline eight-cylinder engine with a displacement of 3,245cc. The engine featured a new block and crankcase design, equipped with camshaft bevel gears, and delivered an impressive 135bhp in standard form.
While the Type 57 was not officially designated as a competition vehicle, its core engine design shared lineage with the Type 59 Grand Prix car, endearing it to rallyists and enthusiasts seeking both speed and luxury.
The chassis of the Type 57 incorporated Bugatti’s proven solid front axle suspension, meticulously tuned to offer a balance between swift touring and luxurious comfort. Jean Bugatti showcased his design prowess by introducing four distinctive in-house body styles for the Type 57. These included the Galibier saloon, the Ventoux four-passenger coupe, the Stelvio four-seat cabriolet, and the Atalante two-seat coupe.
Jean Bugatti’s Atalante coupe, a highlight of the Type 57 series, showcased elegance and innovation with factory design no. 1070. Named after the Greek goddess Atalanta, it transitioned to Atalante from chassis 57330 in 1935. This marked a pivotal moment in Bugatti’s design history, emphasizing Jean Bugatti’s commitment to pushing automotive excellence beyond traditional French norms.
The Type 57, with its diverse body styles and engineering prowess, remains an enduring symbol of Bugatti’s ability to seamlessly blend performance, luxury, and avant-garde design. The legacy of the Type 57 and the Atalante coupe, in particular, endures as a testament to Bugatti’s ongoing pursuit of automotive perfection.
