Type 40 Chassis No. 40432 in 1948 after the installation of 8-cylinder Bugatti engine, at Glen Ewin Hillclimb, South Australia. Photo: Bob King collection
By Frank Studstrup
In the summer of 1926 Ettore Bugatti presented his new type 40, which replaced the old ‘Brescia’ sports car. In the mid-1920s, with the type 35 racing car of 1924, Bugatti was setting new standards for his effective and refined automobile designs, both in regard of engines, chassis and bodywork.
The type 40 incorporated many of the unique design features presented in the Bugatti racing cars, but of course offered in a less expensive and more versatile package aimed at customers for both daily and sporty driving.