Bugatti Royale
| Bugatti Type 41 | |
|---|---|
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|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bugatti |
| Also called | Bugatti Royale |
| Production | 1927–1933 (7 produced, 6 existing; Ettore Bugatti wrecked the 7th) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Luxury car, Classic car |
| Body style | Berline, coupé, cabriolet, roadster |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 12,763 cc (12.7 L) (779 cu in.).straight-8 |
| Transmission | 3-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | ~4.3 m (169.3 in) |
| Length | ~6.4 m (252.0 in) |
| Curb weight | ~3,175 kg (7,000 lb) |
The Bugatti Type 41, better known as the Royale, is a large luxury car built from 1927 to 1933 with a 4.3 m (169.3 in) wheelbase and 6.4 m (21 ft) overall length. It weighs approximately 3,175 kg (7,000 lb) and uses a 12.763 litre (778 cu in) straight-eight engine. For comparison, against the modern Rolls-Royce Phantom (produced from 2003 onward), the Royale is about 20% longer, and more than 25% heavier. This makes the Royale one of the largest cars in the world.
Ettore Bugatti planned to build twenty-five of these cars and sell them to royalty as the most luxurious car ever but even European royalty were not buying such things during the Great Depression, and Bugatti was able to sell only three of the seven made (six still exist, one destroyed in wreck).
Crafted by Ettore Bugatti, the Type 41 is said to have come about because he took exception to the comments of an English lady who compared his cars unfavourably with those of Rolls-Royce.
The prototype had a near 15-litre capacity engine. The production version, its stroke reduced from 150 mm (5.9 in) to 130 mm (5.1 in) had a displacement of 12.7 litres. The engine was built around a single huge block, and at approx. 1.4 m (4.6 ft) long x 1.1 m (3.6 ft) high, is one of the largest automobile engines ever made, producing 205–224 kW (275–300 hp). Its eight cylinders, bored to 125 mm (4.9 in) and with a stroke length of 130 mm (5.1 in), each displaced more than the entire engine of the contemporary Type 40 touring car. It had 3 valves per cylinder (two inlet:one exhaust) driven by a centrally positioned single overhead camshaft. Three bearings and only a single custom carburettor was needed. The engine was based on an aero-engine design that had been designed for the French Air Ministry, but never produced in that configuration.
The engine block and cylinder head were cast in one unit. Grinding of the engine valves was a regular maintenance requirement, and removing the engine valves for grinding required removing and disassembling the large cast iron engine.
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Wikipedia