Some of the remarkable mechanical novelties introduced by the Bugatti Type 32 Tank:
-First all enveloping racing car with an airfoil design
-First racing car with a reduced wheel base of just 1994 mm or 78,5 inches and the track just 1.05 meters (1052 mm or 41.4 in.),
-First racing car with a “suspended” chassis: the axle was sustained by leaf-spring in order to lower the car barycentre of 20/30 centimetres, a solution anticipating the “ground effect” developed later by Colin Chapman in the late sixties.
-First Bugatti with hydraulic brakes in the front and mechanical brakes in the back.
-First racing car with rear gear incorporating a differential.
-First racing car with an engine developed only for competition with special solutions such as overhead camshaft with 5 main bearings, 3 light valves per cylinder, 60mm of bore diameter and stroke length of 88mm.
Most of the great mechanical innovations introduced on the Bugatti Type 32 Tank in 1923 were transfered the next year (with the exception of the design that was still ahead of its times) by Ettore Bugatti on the famous Bugatti Type 35 which dominated the racing world for the following 10 years winning more than 200 races and that owes to the Bugatti Type 32 most of its mechanical characteristics..
BUGATTI TYPE 32
Year Made: 1923
Numbers Made: 4
Engine: Front Longitudinal 8 cylinders inline
Aspiration: Natural
Bore Diameter: 60 mm / 2.36 in
Stroke Length: 88 mm / 3.46 in
Capacity: 1991cc / 121.5 cu in
Hp per litre 37.67 bhp per litre
Bhp/weight 98.55 bhp per weight
Power 55.9 kw / 75 bhp @ 4000 rpm
Camshafts (overhead): 1
Valves (per cylinder): 3
Crankshaft bearings, No. and Type: 3 + 1 ball, plain rods
Cabs: 2 Twin Zenith
Ignition: Magneto
Plugs per cylinder: 1
Gearbox: in the rear axle
Transmission: 3-Speed Manual
Gear change lever: Central
Dimensions:
Track: 41.4ins, 1.05m
Weight 761 kg / 1678 lbs
Wheelbase 2020 mm / 79.5 in
Front track 1052 mm / 41.4 in
Rear track 1052 mm / 41.4 in
Brakes:
Front Brakes: Hydraulic Assist
Rear Brakes: Drum Brakes
Suspensions:
Front suspension: Solid Axle w/Half-Elliptic Springs
Rear suspension: Live Axle w/Reversed Quarter-Elliptic Springs
Wheels:
Front Tyre size: 28 x 4 Rear Tyre size 28 x 4s.
Numbers Made: 4
Engine: Front Longitudinal 8 cylinders inline
Aspiration: Natural
Bore Diameter: 60 mm / 2.36 in
Stroke Length: 88 mm / 3.46 in
Capacity: 1991cc / 121.5 cu in
Hp per litre 37.67 bhp per litre
Bhp/weight 98.55 bhp per weight
Power 55.9 kw / 75 bhp @ 4000 rpm
Camshafts (overhead): 1
Valves (per cylinder): 3
Crankshaft bearings, No. and Type: 3 + 1 ball, plain rods
Cabs: 2 Twin Zenith
Ignition: Magneto
Plugs per cylinder: 1
Gearbox: in the rear axle
Transmission: 3-Speed Manual
Gear change lever: Central
Dimensions:
Track: 41.4ins, 1.05m
Weight 761 kg / 1678 lbs
Wheelbase 2020 mm / 79.5 in
Front track 1052 mm / 41.4 in
Rear track 1052 mm / 41.4 in
Brakes:
Front Brakes: Hydraulic Assist
Rear Brakes: Drum Brakes
Suspensions:
Front suspension: Solid Axle w/Half-Elliptic Springs
Rear suspension: Live Axle w/Reversed Quarter-Elliptic Springs
Wheels:
Front Tyre size: 28 x 4 Rear Tyre size 28 x 4s.
