Page 169 - Classics Issue

BUGATTI TYPE 55 SUPERSPORT ROADSTER. Please allow us to introduce you to BPK 1. An immaculate fully restored Type 55 Buggati which we have had the pleasure of photographing and driving from the Hamish Ogston collection. The car is regularly driven as Hamish does with all his cars, its no Prima Donna museum piece. BPK1 has had a long and colourful life so far with various owners most who drove, raced, hillclimbed the car to its full potential and beyond. Owners like Mr Bachelier who loved hill climbing and was often at the famous Shelsley Walsh hill climb, and another owner was a regular competitor at Prescott Hill climb in the 50’s which is now were the Bugatti Trust is based.BPK 1 spent a few years in America before coming back to the UK to its present owner Mr Ogston.It has been the star at various shows including Pebble Beach in 2003, Automobile club de Monaco de Voitures Anciennes, Louis Vuitton and various rallies including the Moutherey Buggati rally. Driving the Jean Bugatti-styled Type 55 Super Sport RoadsterThe Type 55 was introduced in 1932 and it was one of the ultimate sports cars of its era. It was a road going version of the all conquering Type 51 Grand Prix car. At the time of its launch it cost £1350. With its lovely low built 2 seater body designed by Jean Bugatti with deep cutaway sides and long graceful mudguards in a continuous sweep from front to rear, combined with a 2.3 litre Straight Eight and a Rootes- type Super Charger. Some Type 55s were given individual bodies by Parisian coach builders but majority opinion is the Molsheim-built roadster style designed by Jean Bugatti is the best looking of all. When you push the starter key to fre up the engine it roars into life with a frenzy of whines and gnashes, thisfantastic sound that soars to an earsplitting banshee shriek as the Supercharger does its job is your constant companion while driving.The handling is peerless, with taut and direct brakes and rock steady cornering under power is quite something, and with such great chassis communication makes the car easy to drive moderately fast. As proof of how drivable the car was to the contrary of some peoples judgement, here is a proper boys trip abroad account by one of the previous owners C W P Hampton circa 1936/37 which appeared in the newsletter Bugantics.Enjoy a boys own trip abroad.169