{"product_id":"bugatti-type-50-the-autobiography-of-chassis-number-50177-the-big-bugattis-type-46-50-2-book-set","title":"Bugatti Type 50: The Autobiography Of Chassis Number 50177 \u0026 The Big Bugattis Type 46 \u0026 50 2 Book Set","description":"\u003cp\u003eLaunched in 1930, the \u003cstrong\u003eBugatti Type 50 \u003c\/strong\u003eheralded a new era with the introduction of the \u003cstrong\u003eMolsheim\u003c\/strong\u003e marque’s first twin-cam design, a supercharged 4.9-litre straight-eight engine of prodigious power. At a time when brute force was needed to win the \u003cstrong\u003eLe Mans 24 Hours\u003c\/strong\u003e, a competition version was developed and three such Type 50s took part in 1931. The car around which this book is focused, 50177, was leading the famous endurance race when the team withdrew it owing to tyre failures that had afflicted the sister cars, causing one to crash heavily at high speed. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fascinating story of \u003cstrong\u003e50177\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the \u003cstrong\u003eType 50\u003c\/strong\u003e in general, is told in this brilliantly researched and superbly illustrated book in the Great Cars series. Introductory chapters explain the economically perilous world of 1931, the genius of \u003cstrong\u003eEttore\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eJean Bugatti\u003c\/strong\u003e, the bloodline of large-capacity Bugatti engines, and the \u003cstrong\u003eType 46\u003c\/strong\u003e from which the Type 50 was derived. There follows an in-depth exploration of the Type 50’s design and development, including the \u003cstrong\u003eMiller\u003c\/strong\u003e inspiration behind its twin-cam engine. The four Le Mans races in which Type 50s took part form the core of the book and tell a story of promise unfulfilled. The subject car, 50177, raced three times, in 1931 as a works entry with race no. 5 (driven by \u003cstrong\u003eAlbert Divo\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eGuy Bouriat\u003c\/strong\u003e) and in 1934 and 1935 with works assistance as no. 2 (driven by \u003cstrong\u003ePierre Veyron\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eRoger Labric\u003c\/strong\u003e). A section about the drivers presents illustrated biographies of the four men who raced 50177 as well as the four others in the 1931 works team —\u003cstrong\u003e Louis Chiron\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eAchille Varzi\u003c\/strong\u003e in no. 4 and \u003cstrong\u003eMaurice Rost\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eCount Caberto Conelli \u003c\/strong\u003ein no. 6. Post-war, three-time Le Mans winner \u003cstrong\u003eLuigi Chinetti\u003c\/strong\u003e bought 50177 in 1949 and took it to America, where it spent nearly 50 years with five different owners. The last of them was \u003cstrong\u003eMiles Coverdale\u003c\/strong\u003e, a passionate Bugatti collector who kept the car for 23 years and uncovered much of its history through correspondence with former works mechanics, notably \u003cstrong\u003eRobert Aumaître\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCo-authors \u003cstrong\u003eMark Morris\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eJulius Kruta\u003c\/strong\u003e, well-known in the Bugatti world for their immense knowledge and enthusiasm, present a wealth of fresh information and illustration in this fine book. Brilliantly setting the scene – the book introduces the economically perilous world of 1931, the genius of Ettore and Jean Bugatti, the bloodline of large-capacity Bugatti engines, and the Type 46 from which the Type 50 was derived. Exploring in depth – the authors examine the T50’s design and development, including the Miller inspiration behind its twin-cam engine, and a detailed description of its technical features and iconic coachwork. A wealth of fresh information – the expert authors, well-known in the Bugatti world for their knowledge and enthusiasm, present this brilliantly researched and superbly illustrated new book in the publisher’s acclaimed ‘Great Cars’ series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bugatti Type 46 was announced in the autumn of 1929. The new Bugatti chassis, at almost twelve feet in length and powered by an 8-cylinder engine of 5300cc, was intended to be the basis of a superlative large luxury car - and so it proved to be. Bodied by the greatest European coachbuilders to the highest standards of quality and style for rich and discerning clientele, the T46 was in many ways a smaller Royale and is said to have been the favourite of Ettore Bugatti. Later, an optional supercharger became available to create the 46S model.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1930 the Bugatti Type 50 superseded the T46. The new model still used the T46s chassis and most of its running gear, but featured a new, high-performance, twin-overhead-camshaft engine of just under 5-litre capacity. This supercharged unit gave the T50 very spirited performance for such a large and luxurious car, placing the model firmly in the Grand Sport category.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1931 saw a team of T50s take part in the Le Mans 24-Hour race, but the cars were withdrawn before the race finished after Rosts car crashed, tragically killing a spectator in the process.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn total, fewer than five hundred T46 and T50 Bugattis were built in but, with the obvious exception of the Royale, these cars represented the pinnacle of luxury car manufacture for the famous Molsheim marque.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSee fabulous coachbuilt bodies by Gaston Grummer, Chapron, Ghia, James Young, Van Vooren, Weymann, Billeter \u0026amp; Cartier, Gangloff, Joss Neuce, Mllion-Guiet, Freestone \u0026amp; Webb, Van den Plas, Arthur Mulliner, Kellner, Lancefield, Corsica, Visse et Haf, Ottin, Brainsby-Woollard, Sodomka, Graber, Weinburger, Abbots of Farnham as well as Bugattis standard bodies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBarrie Prices work is a concise history of the Bugatti Types 46 and 50, an engineering analysis and the most thorough survey yet of the many coachbuilt bodies fitted to these famous chassis. Appendices include a complete chassis listing and reproductions of promotional material produced by Bugatti, Bugatti agents and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"... a galaxy of superb coachbuilt and standard bodies on both chassis ...\" - The Automobile\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Barry price writes with great authority ... a fine collection of rare photographs and period advertising material ...\" - Classic Car Weekly\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Midlife Classic Cars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50404565614872,"sku":"KITB09279\/B10700","price":130.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0057\/9813\/3831\/files\/kitb09279b10700.jpg?v=1772268447","url":"https:\/\/www.midlifeclassiccars.com\/bs\/products\/bugatti-type-50-the-autobiography-of-chassis-number-50177-the-big-bugattis-type-46-50-2-book-set","provider":"MidlifeClassicCars.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}