The Only Bugatti Airplane Now Has A Bugatti Companion

"Chris Clarke" (shiftsandgiggles) 07/21/2016 at 11:30 • Filed to: bugatti, bugatti 100p, eaa, air venture, planelopnik, osh16, mad props

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The Experimental Aircraft Association museum in Oshkosh, WI has long housed the only example of Bugatti’s attempt at building a flying machine. While elegant and beautiful, the airplane has never flown and has been relegated to “Hangar Queen” status sitting lonely on the museum floor.

All alone until now when Bugatti meets Bugatti as EAA parks the museum’s newest addition in a clever spot next to its flying namesake. Not much is known about the antique automobile except for the enigmatic Instagram post showing the two classic vehicles-side-by side.

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This road going Bugatti appears to be a Type 57S. Only 710 Type 57 cars were built between 1937-1940 and of those only 43 were “S” variants and only two were factory built as “SC”. The SC was fitted with a supercharger which prompted many Type 57S owners to send back their cars for a retrofit. The new blower bumped power output from 175hp to a whopping 200hp. No other information seems to be available about this particular car’s operational condition or where it came from, but I plan to find out next week when conduct my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! during my aviation pilgrimage to the EAA AirVenture Airshow and Fly-in. Stay tuned for updates.

In case you didn’t know, Ettore Bugatti (the same Bugatti that made famous race cars) !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! meant to compete in a popular aerial race at record setting speeds with intentions to turn military fighter. He persuaded the French Air Ministry to fund the project, but it was never completed due to a series unfortunate events. The plane was disassembled and hidden away during the start of the second World War to keep it away from the encroaching German regime.

Largely forgotten until the late 1960’s when the aircraft was found by an American Bugatti enthusiasts who imported it stateside. After a series of restorations, it was deemed to be completed to original specifications. Unfortunately it was to never leave the ground and can be seen today in the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, WI (which you should go check out because !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! too).

The 100p was considered not only beautiful, but in a period before the high performance aviation advancements were spawned by war, this flying Bugatti was perhaps the most high-tech airplane of its time. In the name of history, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! have been hard at work building a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! replica that recently made its first successful round of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Jcarr > Chris Clarke 07/21/2016 at 11:43

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Intrigued to see this up close. Also interested in seeing the redone warbirds section.

Clemsie McKenzie > Chris Clarke 07/21/2016 at 11:59

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I don’t want to be a dick, but I highly doubt that that car is an original 57SC. Most probably a 57 or 57S later converted. Still awesome and jaw-droppingly gorgeous, though. And I’m not even talking about the amazing plane there!

Chris Clarke > Clemsie McKenzie 07/21/2016 at 12:11

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You’re probably correct. I hope to find out more.

Clemsie McKenzie > Chris Clarke 07/21/2016 at 12:15

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I hope you will and post many pictures!

chaozbandit > Chris Clarke 07/21/2016 at 12:18

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Looks like the 57S Aerolithe rebuild. The colour and fenders match the one I saw at Concours last August, but I could have sworn it was still in Canada.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chaozba…

Dusty Ventures > Chris Clarke 07/21/2016 at 15:46

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I’ll have to track you down at Oshkosh!

kanadanmajava1 > Chris Clarke 07/21/2016 at 16:01

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That’s an Aérolithe replica and it’s really well made. The really one was kinda of a concept car preceding Type 57 Atlantic. They dismantled it and used some of its parts to make the four Atlantics. Some parts have been identified from the surviving three individuals.

Like the original Aérolithe the replica also carries a riveted body made from magnesium alloy (it was called electron when the original existed). But it isn’t completely scratch built and it has a genuine 57 chassis.

Chris Clarke > Dusty Ventures 07/21/2016 at 17:03

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Not unless I track you down first. I bug out on Thursday, hope we cross paths.

0pihl > kanadanmajava1 07/25/2016 at 17:22

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The Aerolithe replica was built by the Guild Of Automotive restorers in Ontario and was the subject of several episodes of Restoration Garage on Velocity.

kanadanmajava1 > 0pihl 07/25/2016 at 19:03

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Interesting. I haven’t seen that series.

Do you know if the guild also does own the car?

0pihl > kanadanmajava1 08/02/2016 at 13:24

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No, it’s owned by an architect whose name escapes me. He also owns a beautiful 6C2500 Alfa restored by the same guys.

kanadanmajava1 > 0pihl 08/02/2016 at 19:10

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Sounds like a pretty good architect to me.