In Short: It's a complete Replica with Bugatti Chassis number BC128, engine T57, nr 453 ex sn#57608. Bob Shaw started the curiosity, building a car as Jean Bugatti might have done originally and utilizing T59 Gran Prix racing wheels and a LHD seating position. It was designed by Dave Holls in the 80's and built by Palmer Coachworks. Finished by Ron Kellogg. A compressor was later added. (I think it was recently featured in Classic & Sporstcar magazine?)
I dunno they had a real one (not that model) at the Roadster Show at the Cow Palace a few years back. Pretty prestigious show for old timmey types.
I like the custon cast brake backing plates. Sure would like to know why they desided to bend the tie rod the way they did. May be the one and only left hand drive Bug, but I don't see the point. A full side view photo would be nice to see.
I could see ringing the shit out of that for years.... hmmm dirt tracking it every corner overunning the engine with steering at a full lock both directions... but I've been told I have no taste and real poor sense of respect for "signature elements of class and history"... now where did I leave my beer? s.
I think its an awesome achievement ! Imagine , taking all those rarer than rare parts from the best years of one of motorsports all time greats , carefully fitting them together with the upmost respect for their origins . Finally , after after years of obscessing over your life's work , you wheel it out into the sun-light for the very first time , take twenty paces back , turn , and cast your eyes over what looks like thousands of other kitcars/replicars , except your wheels were more expensive . Gutted eh ?
OK! fellows, that Bugatti is mine, not a replica of anything, as there was never a type 59 with fenders, its a coachbuild body designed by Dave Holls in 1982, as to what Jean Bugatti might have built for U.S.A. had he lived. It took 12 years to complete it, thanks for nice coments, but will not let it be raced in the dirt, like some of you wish. so if you wish to purchase it, I'll race it for you O K! Ha! Ha! Just new to this group, and think I might like what I see & read, my 1st car a 32 5 window in 1952, pd $50, and drove it for 8 months. Ron Kellogg
This Thread used to have pics of the car on it. I remember seeing them. Very cool car... I looked if I had some pics of it that I could post, but I dont. Hopefully somebody else does.
Welcome to the HAMB Ron, please post some photos of your car. Here is part of a broken T-59 Bugatti connecting rod, that came out of the ex Luddington car in the 1970's. Always wondered how a wrist pin could fall out and have the small end get pounded oval
Is it a hot rod? I'd sure like to think so. This one's a model, but I based my "Boardtrack Basher" around Bugatti guts: (in progress)
Bugatti Hot Rod-Your all correct, showed the car at the Art Ctr of Design in July, I was placed in Hot Rods & Customs class, I'll be damn if I didn't beat out Steve Maol, & Chip Foose, can't be in better company then that. sorry I can't send you photo, as I am new at this. You can view photo's of the Bugatti, at motorsportscenter.com and ck out Bugatti. thanks for your interest. I'll lean this photo stuff one of these days. Ron Kellogg
Ron, That car is breathtaking! I stole the above photo from the link you provided, everyone should read it. I worked in a Bugatti restoration shop for 14 years, we never had a car that looked that good, that is a ton of work. Did you custom make that differential case? Ettorie and Jean would be very proud of that car.
How about real Bugatti rods from the 1930's?? I remember reading about a Brescia (pretty early B) with a Model T racecar engine running in 1930's USA road racing, and I think there were a number of the later Bugattis (57's??) running OHV A-B bangers in USA and European racing. Big-block Bugs!
I don't know how anyone could possible get the idea that the Bugatti could have had any influence on what some now call the "Traditional Hotrod and Custom" cars of the late 40' - 50's. I mean, come on folks Bugatti's are those Pinkie Lifting Tea Drinkers. (Sorry Bob) http://www.bugattipage.com/b1b.htm
I know you are kidding. Ettore Bugatti made his bones when men of steel drove cars made of wood. How many guys came home from europe thinking...I can make my old model T look like that?
The French drink Tea? Wine is more likely, or even more likely in those days, Absinthe... I see some real simularities between these kind of Vintage Race Cars & Trad Hot Rods. And I've known some Bugatti owners that werent scared to drive them on the limit either...
Bunny Phillips put a 4cam Miller V8 in a Bugatti and ran INDY with it, its restored and in a fine Bugatti collection now. NOBODY ever asked him how he got the nickname of Bunny, he was the West Coast guy to fix your Bugatti from the late 1930- late 1970's. Two T-35's came over to run on the board speedway in Atlantic City in the late 1920's, one wound up with a Fronty-Ford engine, a few others ran on the Dry Lakes and Bonneville. Nick Carusso cut the straight 8's in half and powered winning midget race cars with them. Don't make the mistake of thinking they weren't Hot Rods.
I'm just pulling chains. The Bugatti Race cars were some of the beat engineered cars in the world. The Coachbuilt Bugatties look like Steel Sex I'm building a Torepedo Speedster from a 46 Ford Coupe. I can't afford real Bugatti parts but I sure as hell can steal some body lines. Go back and look at some early American Rods and Customs, there is a lot of European influence. Remember before WWII track racing was the main focus of American automobile culture.
I stumbled on this looking for some lost board track pics and thought you'd like this cutey. It's a 37a known as the Ballamy Bugatti, built for a customer by Leslie Ballamy in the late 30s, it found it's way to Australia in the 50s
There was a Bugatti featured in an Aussie hot rod magazine back in the late 60's. They'd blown the original engine up and couldn't get another one so they shoehorned an SBC into the engine bay and kept racing it. From memory it had dual rear wheels to try to reduce wheelspin. Cheers, Glen.
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