Bugatti 57 S
The design of the Royale was absolutely unique and the actual number that were built still remains a mystery. Some chassis have had more than one body which had added to the uncertainty. The makers of the car knew it by its workshop designation, the Type 41, and it was named the Royale by Ettore Bugatti as he intended that its clientele would be royalty.
An English journalist, W. F. Bradley was a friend of Bugatti and knew a great deal about the career of the Royale. Bradley states that the name Royale comes from the fact that the reigning King of Spain, Alfonso XIII, wished to buy the first production model. He had seen it at the San Sebastian G.P. at which Ettore Bugatti drove the prototype. Unfortunately, Alfonso XIII was deposed before the machine was finished. It is known that other monarchs such as the Kings of Albania and Romania visited Bugatti in order to buy the Royale, but again neither actually purchased the car. As Clifford Penn wittily wrote in ‘Autocar’ , the Type 41 was one of the Queens of cars but it was never the car of a king. Andre Citroën was another potential customer, but all names of purchasers were kept as secret as possible.
Car : Bugatti 57 S
Year : 1936
Engine : 8 cylinders in line
Bore and stroke : 72×100 mm
Cylinder capacity : 3257 cc
Gears : 4 forward
Brake horse power :180
Maximum speed : 110 mph
Wheelbase : 9 ft 9½ ins (2.98 m)
Suspension : front: semi-elliptic leaf- springs ;
rear : upside down ¼ elliptic leaf- springs and hydraulic shock-absorbers
Bugatti 57 S