|
English
|

1965 Bugatti Type-101C (Ghia)

Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C Roadster (Exner/Ghia), 1965
Bugatti Type 101-C-X - Design Sketch
Bugatti Type 101-C-X - Design Sketch
Images: Automobile Quarterly - July 1987
Rating:  63    -16    +79
Bugatti Type 101-C (Exner/Ghia) - "The Last Bugatti"
Chassis no. 101 506
Engine no. 101 506-C
This gorgeous car was built on the last chassis produced by the original Bugatti company of Mulsanne, France. Although the chassis was built in 1951, it languished until 1961 when it was delivered to Virgil Exner, the famed American auto designer. The car, as seen in the picture, was completed in 1965 by Ghia from an Exner design and has been dubbed “the Last Bugatti”. This car debuted at the 1965 Turin Motor Show with hopes of reviving the Bugatti marquee. Although the car received great enthusiasm at the show, due to financial constraints, Bugatti just could not be resurrected.

Prior to this car, ten other examples of the Type 101 were produced each with different coachwork. The Type 101s sat atop a modified type T57 chassis and included a 3.3 liter straight eight-cylinder engine, good for 200 hp.


The 1966 Exner Bugatti Roadster by Ghia was the result of three separate auto legends working together. Virgil Exner made his fame designing stunning show cars and the finned "Forward Look" Chrysler vehicles of the Fifties. Bugatti became legendary for its sports/racing cars of the Thirties. Ghia is the highly respected coachbuilder that over the years has produced many one-off show cars. Put the three together and you have what we call the 1966 Exner Bugatti by Ghia, though this car's title actually reads Bugatti 101C.

In November 1965, Motor Trend wrote about the 1966 Exner Bugatti Roadster by Ghia that "This modern classic 2-passenger roadster is the latest thing off Virgil Exner's drawing board. It's his version of the modern Bugatti. Chassis is actually a Bugatti, shortened to 112 inches (from 130). Power comes from the last dohc, Type 57, Straight 8 Bugatti built in 1951 by Pierri Marko, Etorre [Bugatti's] right-hand man, who made one final attempt to revive the car. Only 6 chassis/engine combinations were built and only 5 bodies fitted."

Etorre Bugatti's death in 1947 presaged the collapse of the automotive dynasty that bore his name. The decline had begun when Bugatti's talented son Jean fatally crashed while testing a powerful Grand Prix racer in 1939. That blow was followed by World War II.

Fortunately, a cache of parts remaining from the legendary prewar Type 57 enabled loyal works personnel to assemble a new model without extensive retooling. The Type 101, unveiled in 1951, was a modernized version of the Type 57. Its chassis carried the same straight-eight engine, but the twin overhead cams were now driven by chains instead of gears. The supercharged 3,257-cc Type 101C engine developed 200 horsepower. A silent four-speed gearbox with overdrive and Lockheed hydraulic brakes were new, but the solid front axle was a carryover.

Of the five chassis of the new "Bug" that received coachwork, two were shown at the 1951 Paris Salon. The sixth — set aside as a show chassis — was purchased by Exner in the early Sixties for $2,500. He designed the modern-but-classic exterior, highlighted by a traditional Bugatti-style grille. Virgil Exner Jr. did the interior. Ghia, meanwhile, spent six months building the steel-bodied one-off.


Последний «оригинальный» Бугатти. Автомобиль был построен в 1965 году, спустя два года после прекращения существования фирмы. Это было седьмое законченное шасси типа 101 с последним порядковым номером 101506. Тип 101 был несколько улучшенным довоенным типом 57, имел двигатель объемом 3257 см3, который так же, как и у типа 57, имел помимо обычной версии наддувную, которая обозначалась в названии машины литерой «С» (от французского Compresseur). Такой двигатель имел мощность около 200 л.с.

Это шасси было продано с фабрики Бугатти Вирджилу Экснеру в 1961 году за 2500 долларов. Экснер нарисовал эскиз для этой Бугатти, а его студия изготовила модель будущей машины.

Экснер в тот период сделал серию работ «Возрожденный автомобиль» (Revival Car) – в декабрьском выпуске журнала Esquire 1963 года было представлено его видение современного для 60-х годов дизайна знаменитых исчезнувших американских марок – Штутца, Дюзенберга, Паккарда и Мерсера. Кроме того, Экснер предложил дизайн и для Пирс Эрроу, Джордана и Бугатти. Из семи эскизов удалось воплотить в металле только четыре - Duesenberg, Stutz, Mercer и Bugatti. Из них только Bugatti была основана на оригинальном шасси #101506, укороченном на 46 см.

Экснер спроектировал, в присущем ему стиле, современный классический автомобиль, двухместный родстер, выдвинув на первый план традиционную решетку в стиле Бугатти. Интерьер автомобиля нарисовал сын Экснера, а все работы по воплощению эскизов в металл и кожу выполнило старейшее туринское кузовное ателье Ghia.

На стадии проекта Экснера этот автомобиль назывался Bugatti 101-C-X, и имел определенные отличия от созданной впоследствии машины, хотя не столь значительные. В Ghia шасси укоротили на 46 см, что стало отличительной особенностью этого экземпляра от других Бугатти типа 101.

Шоу-кар был представлен на Туринском автосалоне в 1965 году, но проект никто не взялся финансировать, и он так и остался на стадии прототипа.
Source: www.jaylenosgarage.com; auto.howstuffworks.com; antitrend143.wixsite.com
Coachbuilder: Ghia
1933 Fiat 508S Balilla Spider (Ghia), 1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Cabriolet (Ghia), 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Coupe (Ghia), 1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Supergioiello (Ghia), 1950 Ferrari 195 Inter (Ghia), 1951 Chrysler K-310 (Ghia), 1951 Plymouth XX-500 (Ghia), 1951 Talbot-Lago T.26 Record Coupe (Ghia), 1952 Chrysler C-200 (Ghia), 1952 Chrysler Special (Ghia), 1953 Abarth Fiat 1100 (Ghia), 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint Supergioiello (Ghia), 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 Supersonic Conrero (Ghia), 1953 Cadillac Coupe (Ghia), 1953 Chrysler D’Elegance (Ghia), 1953 Chrysler GS-1 Special (Ghia), 1953 Chrysler Thomas Special (Ghia), 1953 Cisitalia 505 DF (Ghia), 1953 Dodge Firearrow I (Ghia), 1953 Fiat 8V Boano Coupe (Ghia), 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic Coupe (Ghia), 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 CS Speciale (Ghia), 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 SS (Ghia), 1954 Alfa Romeo 2000 Abarth (Ghia), 1954 Chrysler ST Special (Ghia), 1954 DeSoto Adventurer I (Ghia), 1954 Dodge Firearrow II (Ghia), 1954 Dodge Firearrow III (Ghia), 1954 Dodge Firebomb - Firearrow IV (Ghia), 1954 Jaguar XK120 Supersonic (Ghia), 1954 Plymouth Explorer Special (Ghia), 1954 Simca Convertible Special (Ghia), 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 Supergioiello (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler Falcon (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler Flight Sweep I (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler Flight Sweep II (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler ST Special (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler ST Special Convertible (Ghia), 1955 DeSoto Adventurer II (Ghia), 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Coupe Speciale (Ghia), 1955 Ghia Gilda I, 1955 Jaguar XK140 (Ghia), 1955 Lincoln Futura (Ghia), 1955 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia (Ghia), 1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II Supersonic (Ghia), 1956 Chrysler Dart (Ghia), 1956 Chrysler Norseman (Ghia), 1956 Chrysler Special K300 (Ghia), 1956 Dual-Ghia Convertible (Ghia), 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica (Ghia), 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Berlina/Convertible (Ghia), 1956 Packard Predictor (Ghia), 1956 Plymouth Plainsman (Ghia), 1957 Chrysler 375 Coupe (Ghia), 1957 Chrysler Diablo (Ghia), 1957 Dual-Ghia Sport Coupe (Ghia), 1957 Fiat 1100 TV Coupe (Ghia), 1957 Fiat Jolly (Ghia), 1958 Dual-Ghia 400 (Ghia), 1958 Simca Special (Ghia), 1959 Ghia Selene, 1960 Chrysler Valiant (Ghia), 1960 Ghia Dragster IXG, 1960 Plymouth XNR (Ghia), 1961 Chrysler TurboFlite (Ghia), 1961 Dodge Flite-Wing (Ghia), 1961 Dual-Ghia L 6.4 (Ghia), 1961 Ghia Cart, 1961 Maserati 5000 GT (Ghia), 1961 Plymouth Asimmetrica (Ghia), 1961 Volvo P1800 (Ghia), 1962 Fiat 500 Ziba (Ghia), 1962 Ghia Selene II, 1962 Plymouth Valiant St. Regis (Ghia), 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car (Ghia), 1963 Ghia G230S, 1964 Chrysler V280 (Ghia), 1964 Ghia 1500 GT, 1964 Renault R8 Coupe (Ghia), 1965 Bugatti Type-101C (Ghia), 1965 DeTomaso Competizione 2000 (Ghia), 1965 DeTomaso Vallelunga (Ghia), 1966 DeTomaso Mangusta (Ghia), 1966 DeTomaso Mangusta Spyder (Ghia), 1966 DeTomaso Pampero (Ghia), 1966 Duesenberg Model D (Ghia), 1966 Fiat 850 Vanessa (Ghia), 1966 Ghia 450/SS, 1966 Isuzu 117 Sport (Ghia), 1966 Maserati Ghibli (Ghia), 1967 DeTomaso Rowan (Ghia), 1967 Iso S4 Fidia (Ghia), 1967 Oldsmobile Thor (Ghia), 1968 Ghia Serenissima, 1968 Maserati Ghibli Spider (Ghia), 1968 Maserati Simun (Ghia), 1969 DeTomaso Mustela (Ghia), 1969 Isuzu Bellett MX1600 (Ghia), 1969 Lancia Fulvia 1600 Competizione (Ghia), 1969 Lancia Marica (Ghia), 1970 DeTomaso Pantera (Ghia), 1970 Ghia City Car, 1971 DeTomaso 1600 Spider (Ghia), 1971 DeTomaso Deauville (Ghia), 1971 DeTomaso Zonda (Ghia), 1971 Ford GT-70 (Ghia), 1972 DeTomaso Longchamp (Ghia), 1973 DeTomaso Pantera II/Montella (Ghia), 1973 Ford Mustela II (Ghia), 1973 Lincoln Mark I (Ghia), 1974 Ford Coins (Ghia), 1975 Ford Flashback (Ghia), 1975 Ford Urban Car (Manx) (Ghia), 1976 Ford Corrida (Ghia), 1976 Ford Prima (Ghia), 1977 Ford Megastar (Ghia), 1978 Ford Fiesta Tuareg (Ghia), 1978 Ford Lucano (Ghia), 1978 Ford Megastar II (Ghia), 1978 Ford Microsport (Ghia), 1978 Ford Mustang III (Ghia), 1978 Ghia Action, 1978 Mercury XM (Ghia), 1979 Ford GTK (Ghia), 1979 Ford Navarre (Ghia), 1979 Ford Probe I (Ghia), 1980 Ford Granada Altair (Ghia), 1980 Ford Mustang RSX (Ghia), 1980 Ford Pockar (Ghia), 1981 AC ME3000 (Ghia), 1981 Ford Aerovan (Ghia), 1981 Ford Avant Garde (Ghia), 1981 Ford Cockpit (Ghia), 1981 Ford EXP-II (Ghia), 1981 Ford Shuttler (Ghia), 1981 Ford Super Gnat (Ghia), 1982 Ford Brezza (Ghia), 1982 Ford Quicksilver (Ghia), 1982 Ford Topaz (Ghia), 1982 Ghia Mini Max, 1983 Ford Barchetta (Ghia), 1983 Ford Trio (Ghia), 1984 Ford APV (Ghia), 1984 Ford Vignale Mustang (Ghia), 1984 Ford Vignale TSX-4 (Ghia), 1985 Ford Probe V (Ghia), 1985 Ford Urby (Ghia), 1986 Ford Vignale TSX-6 (Ghia), 1987 Ford HFX Aerostar (Ghia), 1987 Lincoln by Vignale (Ghia), 1989 Ford Saguaro (Ghia), 1989 Ford Via (Ghia), 1990 Ford Fiesta Bebop (Ghia), 1990 Ford Zag (Ghia), 1990 Ford Zig (Ghia), 1991 Ford Connecta (Ghia), 1992 Ford Focus (Ghia), 1993 Aston Martin Lagonda Vignale (Ghia), 1994 Ford Arioso (Ghia), 1996 Ford Alpe (Ghia), 1996 Ford Lynx (Ghia), 1996 Ford Saetta (Ghia), 1996 Ford Vivace (Ghia), 1996 Lincoln Sentinel (Ghia), 1998 Ford Touring Ka (Ghia), 2000 Ford Street Ka (Ghia), 2001 Ford Forty-Nine (Ghia)
Discuss this car
Author
E-mail
Add your comments