Glenister 1936
1936 Bugatti 57SC Atalante 12
With its streamlined styling, low-slung chassis and supercharged engine, the Type 57SC Atalante is one of the most desirable Bugattis. It was personally designed by Jean Bugatti as a two-seater sports coupe and became the rarest of the four different body styles offered by Carrosorie Bugatti. The Atalante body style was an interpretation of the 1935 Aérolithe Coupe, essentially a prototype that reached very limited production in 1936 as the Type 57 Atlantic. This somewhat bizarre car used riveted panels to form a streamlined sports coupe. It’s rumored that Jean Bugatti was influenced by the Mercedes-Benz 500 K Autobahnkurier at the 1934 Frankfurt Auto Show and created the Aérolithe as a response.
As majestic and unusual as the Atlantic was, it wasn’t suitable for series production with its high set doors, fussy construction and split front window. The design was revised into the Atalante which included the Aérolithe’s teardrop shape, but with a flat windshield, a separate trunk area with recessed spare-tire and full-size doors that retained the signature kidney-bean windows.
On the 57S Atalante, Jean used a two-tone paint scheme that accentuated the use of his French curve on the side of the car. Typically, the car was black with an intense highlight color. On some cars, this accent dash extended around the entire cabin.
The basis for this remarkable car was Bugatti's top-of-the-line Type 57S chassis. These were the same type that Jean-Pierre Wimille and Robert Benoist drove to win the 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans. It had a much lower chassis than the preceding Type 57 and also used complex de Ram shock absorbers
. In many ways this was the ultimate Bugatti since no logical successor was ever produced. Some cars came with fitted superchargers, while others were retrofitted with them.
To maintain exclusivity, no two of the Type 57S Atalantes were the same. In detail, each was distinct and some major differences were introduced. For instance, two were made as Roll-Back Coupes with reclining soft-tops. Some of the first had independent headlights while others were sculpted into the body. Most featured skirted rear arches and wire wheels or polished aluminum hubcaps. Some of the more dramatic cars feature lengthened rear fenders. Essentially, where anyone tries to make a rule there is usually an exception.
Type 57SC Chassis
Atalante bodies were manufactured on the complete range of Type 57 chassis. This was Jean Bugatti’s answer to model consolation, replacing the six luxurious and sporting chassis made under his father’s direction. Using the dual-overhead camshaft (DOHC) concept engine from the Type 55 road car, he designed an entirely new chassis.
The first of these were the Type 57 and supercharged 57C both were distinguished by their tall radiator and chassis. They were powered by a new engine with 72mm bore and 100mm stroke, producing 135 bhp at 5,000 rpm. Almost as important, they provided the support for Jean Bugatti’s exceptional bodies which were elegant, with balanced proportions and daring colors.
Later, the chassis was definitively upgraded into the lower Type 57S or Surbaissé version. The main chassis rails of this model were elegant and complex. Towards the center of car, the chassis rails became wider and taller to provide the necessary rigidity. At the rear, the axle passed through the chassis and was supported by reversed quarter-elliptic leaf springs. This allowed for the lowest possible ride height while retaining suspension compliance. Furthermore, the engine clearance dictated a dry-sump lubrication was needed that used a 20-liter external reservoir.
Outwardly, the Type 57S chassis was distinguished by its ovoid radiator that formed a deep vee. Other chassis details included self-adjusting DeRam hydraulic shock absorbers on both the front and rear axles. Furthermore, the engine was not a stressed member of the chassis anymore, instead being mounted with rubber bushings.
As the ultimate Atalante, the Type 57SC had both this lower chassis and supercharged engine. It was distinguished by its 4–5 psi supercharger that helped the 3.3-liter engine produce 170 bhp. This Roots unit was mounted at the rear of the engine and driven directly from the camshaft. Versions of this engine went on to win the best races including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
With such a capable chassis, the Type 57SC has been described as the world’s first supercar
1936 Bugatti 57SC Atalante 12
With its streamlined styling, low-slung chassis and supercharged engine, the Type 57SC Atalante is one of the most desirable Bugattis. It was personally designed by Jean Bugatti as a two-seater sports coupe and became the rarest of the four different body styles offered by Carrosorie Bugatti. The Atalante body style was an interpretation of the 1935 Aérolithe Coupe, essentially a prototype that reached very limited production in 1936 as the Type 57 Atlantic. This somewhat bizarre car used riveted panels to form a streamlined sports coupe. It’s rumored that Jean Bugatti was influenced by the Mercedes-Benz 500 K Autobahnkurier at the 1934 Frankfurt Auto Show and created the Aérolithe as a response.
As majestic and unusual as the Atlantic was, it wasn’t suitable for series production with its high set doors, fussy construction and split front window. The design was revised into the Atalante which included the Aérolithe’s teardrop shape, but with a flat windshield, a separate trunk area with recessed spare-tire and full-size doors that retained the signature kidney-bean windows.
On the 57S Atalante, Jean used a two-tone paint scheme that accentuated the use of his French curve on the side of the car. Typically, the car was black with an intense highlight color. On some cars, this accent dash extended around the entire cabin.
The basis for this remarkable car was Bugatti's top-of-the-line Type 57S chassis. These were the same type that Jean-Pierre Wimille and Robert Benoist drove to win the 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans. It had a much lower chassis than the preceding Type 57 and also used complex de Ram shock absorbers
. In many ways this was the ultimate Bugatti since no logical successor was ever produced. Some cars came with fitted superchargers, while others were retrofitted with them.
To maintain exclusivity, no two of the Type 57S Atalantes were the same. In detail, each was distinct and some major differences were introduced. For instance, two were made as Roll-Back Coupes with reclining soft-tops. Some of the first had independent headlights while others were sculpted into the body. Most featured skirted rear arches and wire wheels or polished aluminum hubcaps. Some of the more dramatic cars feature lengthened rear fenders. Essentially, where anyone tries to make a rule there is usually an exception.
Type 57SC Chassis
Atalante bodies were manufactured on the complete range of Type 57 chassis. This was Jean Bugatti’s answer to model consolation, replacing the six luxurious and sporting chassis made under his father’s direction. Using the dual-overhead camshaft (DOHC) concept engine from the Type 55 road car, he designed an entirely new chassis.
The first of these were the Type 57 and supercharged 57C both were distinguished by their tall radiator and chassis. They were powered by a new engine with 72mm bore and 100mm stroke, producing 135 bhp at 5,000 rpm. Almost as important, they provided the support for Jean Bugatti’s exceptional bodies which were elegant, with balanced proportions and daring colors.
Later, the chassis was definitively upgraded into the lower Type 57S or Surbaissé version. The main chassis rails of this model were elegant and complex. Towards the center of car, the chassis rails became wider and taller to provide the necessary rigidity. At the rear, the axle passed through the chassis and was supported by reversed quarter-elliptic leaf springs. This allowed for the lowest possible ride height while retaining suspension compliance. Furthermore, the engine clearance dictated a dry-sump lubrication was needed that used a 20-liter external reservoir.
Outwardly, the Type 57S chassis was distinguished by its ovoid radiator that formed a deep vee. Other chassis details included self-adjusting DeRam hydraulic shock absorbers on both the front and rear axles. Furthermore, the engine was not a stressed member of the chassis anymore, instead being mounted with rubber bushings.
As the ultimate Atalante, the Type 57SC had both this lower chassis and supercharged engine. It was distinguished by its 4–5 psi supercharger that helped the 3.3-liter engine produce 170 bhp. This Roots unit was mounted at the rear of the engine and driven directly from the camshaft. Versions of this engine went on to win the best races including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
With such a capable chassis, the Type 57SC has been described as the world’s first supercar