Bugatti Raced Four ‘Tanks’ 100 Years Ago

It was at the 1923 French Grand Prix.

Date: July 2, 1923. Venue: Loire Valley, France. Event: French Grand Prix. Attendance: 300,000. To sum up, an ideal place to make a statement with cutting-edge racing machines. Bugatti was one of the carmakers that participated in the event with four Type 32 ‘Tank’ racecars. Besides the curious naming, the car had a standout aeroplane-inspired wing-shaped body.

But why suffix it with ‘Tank’? In addition to the bold, enclosed and aerodynamic shape, the visible rivets and bolts earned it that tag. Underneath, it was primarily based on the Bugatti Type 30 – with a 2.0-litre eight-cylinder engine at heart generating around 90hp. The ‘Tank’ also benefited from various engineering innovations, including hydraulic brakes, an underslung chassis and a three-speed and reverse transaxle transmission.

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Bugatti built five Type 32 ‘Tank’ units – one prototype and four racecars, which participated in the 1923 French Grand Prix. The 35-lap event, each stretching 22.83km, meant the cars covered just shy of 800km by the end of the race. Of the four ‘Tanks’, the most successful bagged the third position with French driver Ernest Friderich at the wheel. He completed the race in seven hours and 22.4 seconds, at an average speed just north of 112kmph. That set the tone for what was to come next – the Bugatti Type 35 – a car that won the Grand Prix World Championship in 1926.

The Type 32 has a short GP career. However, it did help Bugatti learn the importance of aerodynamics in motorsports. A more honed recipe was found in another Bugatti racer – the 57G – which also earned the ‘Tank’ moniker. The car went on to win the 1936 French Grand Prix, followed by a triumph at the 1937 Le Mans.

Today, the original Type 32 ‘Tank’ rests at Musée National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse, France. It still gets into action at certain historic races.