Bugatti Type 101 I gallery (1951–1956)

The Bugatti Type 101 was introduced in 1951 under the management of Pierre Marco and Roland Bugatti in an ambitious effort to revive the historic Molsheim automaker after the devastation of World War II. Mechanically, the car was heavily based on the pre-war Type 57 platform, retaining its traditional ladder-frame chassis, rigid front and rear axles, and leaf-spring suspension layout. Power was supplied by the familiar 3.3-liter (3257 cc) double overhead camshaft inline-eight engine, producing roughly 135 horsepower in standard naturally aspirated form and around 190 horsepower in the supercharged Type 101C specification. Gearbox options included a traditional four-speed manual or a four-speed Cotal preselector electromagnetic transmission. Because Bugatti did not offer standard production bodies, chassis were clothed by renowned coachbuilders including Gangloff, Guilloré, and Antem, producing custom saloons, convertibles, and coupes, along with a one-off Ghia roadster designed by Virgil Exner in 1965. Hampered by high post-war luxury taxes in France and an outdated chassis design, the Type 101 saw virtually no commercial demand, resulting in only eight chassis ever being completed before Bugatti ceased automotive manufacturing.