Buggati Type 59 racer

[Marquis_Rex]

I've been asked to do some consultancy work for a straight-8 long stroke 3.3 litre Buggati engine for the above vehicle. Mostly involves looking at firing order, cam profiles helping to evaluate balance, distribution and other details.
I was shocked to discover the purchase price of this vehicle
I've done a search and fond a little about this car.
So who knows anything about this car and it's achievements?

[Balmoral Green]

Oi! no, leave it alone, you'll be repainting the roof of the Cystine chapel next.

[agent006]

Assuming it's not them that you're working for, the Owners Club at prescott are a good contact. Large stock of remanufactured parts and technical info.

[tvrgaas]

Marquis_Rex said:

firing order?

I thought Ivan Dutton was the leading exponent of this - at least for the T35.

One was bought (rumoured by VW (?)) this year from Bonhams. The catalogue gave some details of the history of this car.

It was just parked in the Paddock at Donington during the VSCC Track Day/AGM earlier in the year.

[ccharlie6]

an absolutely beautiful car i took many pics of the one for sale at VSCC prescott



the wheels on them are the brilliant piano wire wheels with many spokes. i think the engine was the one of the final evolutions of the bug straight 8 supercharged aswell i think but can't remember ill have to look at some meeting programmes.

[ettore]

The most recent Type 59 to sell was the Bonhams car at Prescott - which was bought by Thomas Bscher (the chairman of VWBugatti).

Type 59`s are truly exquisite and beautiful machines that were the last proper front-line GP Bugattis (although there were later efforts). In reality they weren`t particularly successful because Alfa and Maserati had moved the game forward, even before the subsequent dominance of the Germans. The Type 59 was the last "classic" GP Bugatti with a 3.3 litre supercharged twin-cam straight eight that was related to the Type 57 road engine. I think there were about 5 built (although more exist now!)and most of them were sold to UK owners in the mid thirties where they met with relative success at Brooklands and a variety of other second string meetings. I believe a couple remain in the UK but the best people to speak to are the Bugatti Trust at Prescott who probably have the original drawings and factory test notes.

I`d certainly be happy if there were one in the garage...

[The Wiz]

Bugatti Type 59
3.3-litre GP
Identifying Features:

Bugatti piano wire wheels; front springs sliding in blocks above cross tube at front; external multi-tube oil cooler; large lightening holes in frame; external brake compensating chain-work; full width rear springs; De Ram shock absorbers

Years Made
(approx): 1933-36

Number Made:
6 or 7

Engine:
No of cylinders: 8
Bore x stroke: 72 x 100mm (1933: 72 x 88mm)
Capacity: 3257cc (1933: 2866)
BHP (approx): 250
RPM Limit (prudent): 5500
Camshafts: dohc
Valves (per cylinder): 2
Camshaft drive: Rear, spur gears
Crankshaft bearings: 6 plain, plain rods
Supercharger: Roots
Carburettor: 2 Zenith, 52mm
Ignition: Scintilla Vertex magneto
Plugs per cylinder: 1
Firing Order: 1, 5, 3, 7, 4, 8, 2, 6

Clutch:
Type: Dry, multi-plate, all metal

Gearbox:
Location: Separate, central, 4-speed and reverse
Gear change lever: external

Rear Axle:
Normal Ratio: Double reduction, 2.9 to 4.5 available

Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 102.3in (2.60m)
Track: 49.2in (1.25m)
Weight (approx): 1650lb (750kg)

Brakes:
Location and Type: 4-wheel cable operated

Wheels:
Type: Bugatti piano wire
Tyre size: original and modern fitment, 5.25 to 6.00 x 19

Crossbreeding with Other Types:
Engine basically dry sump version of T57SC

[Marquis_Rex]

I saw bits of this car last week.
The piano style wheels are gear driven!
It's interesting that it has a finger follower with curved pad that sits on a rocker shaft just next to the cams. It isn't dissimilar to the BMW E46 M3 or the TVR speed six engine.

[ettore]

Marquis_Rex said:

I saw bits of this car last week. The piano style wheels are gear driven! It's interesting that it has a finger follower with curved pad that sits on a rocker shaft just next to the cams. It isn't dissimilar to the BMW E46 M3 or the TVR speed six engine.

Aren`t all the components lovely!

[Marquis_Rex]

ettore said:

Marquis_Rex said: I saw bits of this car last week. The piano style wheels are gear driven! It's interesting that it has a finger follower with curved pad that sits on a rocker shaft just next to the cams. It isn't dissimilar to the BMW E46 M3 or the TVR speed six engine. Aren`t all the components lovely!

Yes very impressive, makes me hate modern/new cars even more!