Bugatti Masterpieces of 1920s and 1930s. By Roberto Bigano

Bugatti Masterpieces. A gallery of the most iconic models.

Ikonographia is proud to showcase a gallery of the most iconic vintage Bugatti models, highlighted by the splendid images of Roberto Bigano. The models range from the legendary Type 13 and Type 35 racing models to the stylish Type 57 Atalante and Atlantic designed by Jean Bugatti.
All the images are available in high-resolution or fine-art prints.
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A gallery of Masterpieces. Let’s start with the Type 13 Brescia.

The Bugatti Type 13, Brescia, was the first actual Bugatti produced from 1910 to 1926. Thanks to the race victories, Bugatti became known as pur-sang (thoroughbred), keeping with Ettore Bugatti’s feelings for his designs.
The Bugatti Type 13, Brescia, was fast and technically superior, making it virtually unbeatable. This was evident in the 1921 Brescia Grand Prix, where Bugatti’s cars finished in the top four places, sparking a surge in orders. With the introduction of the “Brescia,” Ettore Bugatti fundamentally changed the racing scene, as his cars won almost every competition they entered in the 1920s, cementing their place in racing history.

The initial Brescia featured a basic, functional design so rudimentary and simplistic that it earned the nickname “Bagnoire” (bathtub), a term reflecting its unique shape and design.
The Brescia design was later refined, as evidenced by the exquisite yellow sample below.

The Bugatti Type 35.

The Bugatti Type 35 is an iconic race car design produced between 1924 and 1930. It was phenomenally successful, winning over 1,000 races in its time. In 1926, it took the Grand Prix World Championship after winning 351 races and setting 47 records in the two prior years.

At its height, the Type 35 averaged 14 weekly race wins, including the prestigious Targa Florio for five consecutive years, from 1925 through 1929.

The Bugatti Type 41 Royale.

The Bugatti Type 41 Royale was gorgeous in its seven-meter length. It was enormous, had the most oversized wheels, and was the longest and tallest limo. Her design and form would smoothly conceal the captivating exuberance of an eight-cylinder motor for an impressive 12,773 cubic meters capacity that defines once and for all the original idea of a car.

Only seven Royales were produced. We showcase the “Coupè Napoleon,” Ettore Bugatti’s car, and the Bugatti Type 41 Esders Roadster, probably the most elegant.

The Bugatti Royale’s Prancing Elephant, according to Antonio Tabucchi.

There has never been such an expensive car. Only seven Bugatti Royale were built, each one different. Upon the radiator grill, the Royale and the Petit Royale had a prancing elephant carved by Rembrandt Bugatti, Ettore’s brother, as a symbol.  You can find it described in Rebus, a short tale by Antonio Tabucchi. Here is an excerpt.

The Bugatti Royale, according to Antonio Tabucchi.

It really was a Bugatti Royale, a Coupé de Ville; I don’t know if that means anything to you, Monsieur […] Albert couldn’t believe his eyes. It’s not possible; it’s not possible, he repeated to himself while stroking the long-tempered bumpers.

I don’t know if you understand, but a Bugatti gives one the idea of a woman’s body lying down on her back with her legs forward […] The elephant was missing from the bonnet. That was the only awful surprise. Maybe you may not know, or perhaps you just haven’t noticed, that Bugatti had a figurine of a silver statue of an elephant on the bonnet, right on top of the radiator grill. It was a sculpture by Ettore’s brother, Rembrandt Bugatti. It wasn’t only a trademark, like the Rolls Royce Winged Victory of Samothrace or the Packard’s Swan, but a tangible symbol to be deciphered like every other symbol. It was an elephant standing on his back legs, with the erect trunk symbolizing aggression and coupling.

Does it seem too easy to explain? Perhaps. But think about it: a Bugatti Royale lying on its back, going slowly uphill, wings spread open, ready to speed up, ready for the thrill, with that fabulous radiator grill protecting its pulsating life and energy, and on the top an elephant with an erect trunk.
Excerpt from the short story “Rebus” in “Little Misunderstandings of No Importance” “(Piccoli equivoci senza importanza), by Antonio Tabucchi.

Bugatti Type 55 Sport Roadster and Coupé

The Type 55 was introduced at the 1931 Paris Motor Show. It was produced until 1935 in 38 samples, Roadster and Coupé, most of which had factory bodywork elegantly designed by Jean Bugatti.
Like many high-end automakers, Bugatti used its success in competition to promote its road cars. This already happened with the Type 13 Brescia and the Type 35.
The Type 55 was a direct descendant of the Type 51 race car and was similarly powered by a supercharged 2.3-litre dual-overhead-cam inline-eight.

We showcase here two pictures of the Roadster and Coupé, with the classic factory bodywork by Jean Bugatti.