1927 Bugatti Type 35C

I can personally attest that it’s possible to sit for hours contemplating the Type 35 like a piece of sculpture

by Thor Thorson

There were 23 automobiles on the starting grid for the 1930 Monaco Grand Prix. Fourteen of them—60% of the field—were Bugattis. Bugattis were essentially graceful machines that emphasized light weight and great road holding over power. Their attributes made mediocre drivers feel good and turned great drivers into giants.

The Type 35 Bugatti that debuted in the 1924 Paris Motor Show embodied all of Ettore Bugatti’s experience, skill, talent, and aesthetic sense. The bodywork was narrow, smooth, and streamlined. The frame was fully enclosed within the body, including full undertrays with only the engine’s sump exposed to the air stream for cooling. The Type 35’s engine was an object with balance, integrity, and inherent beauty that still never fails to attract the eye and invite close inspection.

This Bugatti Type 35C was built in April 1927. The entry for it and chassis 4890 was marked “San Sebastian” in the factory records, indicating that these...