100 Years of the Bugatti Type 30

In 1922, Bugatti presented a production car with an eight-cylinder engine for the first time. For this, the mechanics around Ettore Bugatti joined two four-cylinder engine blocks together. They also added a housing for the overhead camshaft and a one-piece crankcase that was firmly attached to the frame. At the front end, a vertical shaft transmitted the revolutions of the crankshaft to the camshaft. A magneto dual ignition system and later a battery ignition system provided sparks in the cylinders. Meanwhile, two Zenith carburetors provided the necessary fuel-air mixture. There were two overhead intake valves and one large exhaust valve per combustion chamber. Bugatti had already tried out this design shortly before in an aircraft engine. At that time, the two-liter displacement produced an impressive 75 to 100 hp, depending on the version. This enabled the Type 30 to reach between 75 and 90 mph.

First production Bugatti with eight cylinders

Actually, the engine was supposed to have a displacement of three liters. Ettore Bugatti had already had a similar engine fitted to a Type 28 prototype. However, the Grand Prix regulations changed and stipulated a maximum of two-liter power units for the subsequent period. Bugatti changed the specifications and used the inline eight-cylinder engine for the first time in the Type 29 Grand Prix racing car. But it wasn’t the engine alone that made the Type 30 so innovative. The forged front axle with hydraulic drum brakes was taken over from the Type 22. At that time, it was still common for cars to have brakes only on the rear axle. Bugatti also developed cast brake shoes with worm-shaped recesses for the rear brake drums. Starting in 1924, the company switched to a cable system on the front axle due to material problems. A new locking system was used for the bolts, for which Bugatti was granted a patent.

Around 600 units built in five years

The new Type 30 remained in the model range from 1922 to 1926. Around 600 examples were built during this period. Customers had a choice of different bodies, from four-seater tourers to coupés and convertibles. Many owners sent letters to Bugatti to thank them for the sporty, powerful handling of their cars. Eventually, the Type 30 chassis was also used to create the Type 32 Tank with streamlined bodywork for the 24-hour race in Le Mans. This made the Type 30 on of the most important vehicles in the brand’s early history. Its place in the portfolio was finally taken by the Type 38.

Images: Bugatti