The Bugatti Type 51 series succeeded the famous Type 35 as Bugatti's premier racing car for the 1930s. The main distinction is that it uses a twin cam engine. Unlike the dominant Type 35s of the prior decade, the Type 51 were unable to compete with the government-supported German and Italian offerings.
Bugatti Type 51
Bugatti Type 51
Bugatti Type 51
Bugatti Type 59 at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The Bugatti Type 35 is an iconic race car design produced by Bugatti at their Molsheim premises between 1924 and 1930. It was extremely successful when raced by the factory works team. It was also bought by a diverse roster of privateer clientele from around the world. It pioneered the concept of a holistically conceived, race-ready car available for purchase.
Bugatti Type 35
Bugatti Type 37 (left) and 35 (right) cars at the Cité de l'Automobile Museum, Mulhouse
Carl Junker won the 1931 Australian Grand Prix with a Type 39
1925 Bugatti Type 35A "Tecla"