The Type 55 Super Sports was introduced in 1932 and in production until 1935. Just thirty eight examples were produced in total, of which just sixteen were fitted with roadster coachwork designed by Jean Bugatti and crafted at the Molsheim works. It is believed 11 of those original roadsters survive to this day.
The engine of the Type 55 was essentially the same 2.3Litre Inline Eight-Cylinder engine with double overhead camshaft and roller bearing crankshaft as fitted to the hugely successful Type 51 GP. In similar fashion, a Roots type supercharger was fitted and helped to give a healthy 130BHP at 5,000rpm and a top speed of around 112MPH. Only the compression ratio of the Type 55 was slightly lower compared to the engine of the Type 51 GP.
The Type 51 GP had been hugely successful during 1931, with numerous wins to its name including the French GP, so it is no surprise the same engine was chosen for the new potent Bugatti sports roadster introduced in 1932.
This particular Type 55 Super Sports is an exacting tribute assembled in the early 1990s by Pur Sang in Argentina using a complete running gear from the UK, some genuine Bugatti parts and Type 55 bodywork fabricated to a high standard in Argentina. Clearly an expensive and comprehensive project, the Bugatti was finished in 1993.
The complete running gear for the car came from Crosthwaite & Gardiner. This includes a full roller bearing crankshaft engine and Roots type supercharger made from original drawings.
The gearbox, steering parts and brakes were also made by Crosthwaite & Gardiner in the UK who have a long history connected to Bugatti and historic racing cars in general. Their work is always of the highest standard.
The rear axle is stamped and is a genuine Bugatti Molsheim rear axle. The front axle is a new item.
The Type 55 was formerly owned by the ex. proprietor of Hoffmans of Henley, a Lotus and Rolls-Royce expert based in the UK. The former owner spend numerous hours going over the Type 55, sourcing and manufacturing further parts to make it indistinguishable from the original. This included taking the engine apart to its individual components along with the brakes and axles. A few photos of this work follow the car.
A tour of Sicily in 2013 where the car behaved faultlessly, confirmed the standard of the build and of the work carried out by the perfectionist owner in the UK.
In 2017 the Bugatti Type 55 was sold at a Bonhams auction, and it has stayed with the same enthusiastic owner since then, benefitting from regular maintenance and exercise. In fact, in the autumn of 2024, the Type 55 was subject to a comprehensive service with dedicated Bugatti Workshop ‘Gubsø Garage’ in Denmark and it is now on the button and ready to be enjoyed by its next owner.
A small folder with documents detailing work carried out and some invoices come with the car.
The Bugatti comes with a UK V5 and is registered with chassis number BC 146. The car was imported to EU prior to Brexit, so no import-VAT applies upon registering the car in the EU.