Bugatti Type 32 (Tank de Tours)

The 'Tank de Tours'. Only five (one prototype and four race cars) were built by Bugatti to compete in the French Grand Prix of 1923. Taking place near the town of Tours, the roughly triangular course ran over nearly 23 kilometres of public roads, the cars driving 35 laps (799 km) to complete the race.

An early experiment in streamlining its aerofoil shape reportedly caused the car to generate lift at high speed causing serious handling problems, although others blame the handling on the relatively short wheelbase.

Despite these reported design flaws one car (no. 6) driven by Ernest Friderich finished the race in third place. First and second place were taken by two Sunbeams, twenty-five minutes ahead. Yet the car was considered a failure and never raced a Grand Prix again, its successor (the famed Type 35) fared slightly better.

Engine: 1991cc SOHC inline 8 cylinder, two Zenith HA carburettors
Wheels: Rudge-Whitworth split rim
Tyres: 28" x 4.4" straight-sided front and rear, 60 PSI+
Hydraulic front drum brakes. Rear cable drum brakes, hand operated
Suspension: Reversed quarter elliptic leaf springs, front and rear

"You can well imagine that with no firewall there is intimate communication between driver and machinery. The clutch whirrs dangerously close to one's left leg, the pipes get hot, oil splatters all over you, and there is a lot of exhaust, hot water, steam, noise and danger. The exhaust glows, gas dribbles steadily on your feet, and backfires light up the universe. All very exciting."
Bob Sutherland, 'Pur Sang' magazine, 1983.