Exactly 100 years ago, the Bugatti brand first introduced its newest commercial car model: Type 30 in 1922. The car possesses “numbers” that are considered impressive for a commercial car model. commerce at that time. The car is equipped with an eight-cylinder engine, with a capacity of 2 liters, with an output capacity of 100 horsepower and a maximum speed of up to 145 km/h. Besides the impressive output power, this model also leaves a lot of buzz with many technical innovations.
This model is equipped with an eight-cylinder engine block consisting of two four-cylinder blocks, an upper camshaft housing and a monobloc crankcase securely attached to the frame. Previously, Ettore Bugatti had planned to build a 3-liter 8-cylinder engine and put this engine block in the Type 28 prototype in 1921. However, Ettore redesigned the engine after some changes in previous versions. Grand Prix regulations limit engine capacity to two liters.
In the engine block on the Type 30, the team designed a vertical shaft located at the front of the engine and transmits the number of revolutions of the crankshaft to the camshaft. This setup coordinated two overhead intake valves and a larger exit valve for rapid gas exchange similar to the aircraft engine setup designed by Ettore Bugatti. Initially, the spark plugs were ignited by dual magnetic ignition and later by battery ignition.
Two Zenith carburetors supplied the eight-cylinder engine with a full air-fuel mixture and there were two sets of four-exhaust manifolds on the left. Depending on the operating situation, the engine delivers from about 75 horsepower to 100 horsepower. With speeds between 120 km/h and 145 km/h, the Type 30 was one of the fastest production cars of its time. The driver can activate four forward and one reverse gears with his right hand. Bugatti installed the new engine for the first time in the Type 29 racing car with a short wheelbase. Besides the technological settings, power output and quality, Ettore Bugatti also paid attention to the engine’s appearance and designed the engine block with an angular, clearly structured layout.
Bugatti Type 30 is Bugatti’s first commercial vehicle equipped with a front brake system and a front axle forged from Bugatti’s axle. 100 years ago, other cars only braked with the rear axle. Bugatti’s brake system has a molded brake shoe with spiral grooves that interacts directly with the rear steel brake drum, allowing the driver to decelerate safely. On the front axle, the car was equipped with a hydraulic system for the first time, but in 1924 this was replaced by a cable system due to material problems.
Ettore Bugatti also focused on upgrading the car with some details to help the driver be more comfortable when driving the car. The car was installed with a multi-layer leather package to help absorb shocks when overcoming poor road conditions at the time. He also equipped the motorcycle with a new screw lock with screws with integrated washers and new threads that no longer loosen even when shaken or affected by external forces. This equipment was once patented by the name Ettore Bugatti.
Variants based on the Type 30 developed between 1922 and 1926 included sporty four-seat cars as well as two-seat coupes and convertibles. Even the Type 32 “Tank” racing car with a maximum speed of up to 160 km/h was developed based on the Type 30. Bugatti sold about 600 Type 30s until 1926 before being replaced. with the Type 38. Customers wrote to Ettore Bugatti to attest to the strong performance and praise of the Type 30 during the years it was in production and delivered.
Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti, commented: “The Type 30 is a very important link in the development story of the Bugatti brand. With Bugatti’s first eight-cylinder engine that helped the Type 30 reach a top speed of 145 km/h and pioneering technologies such as front brakes, the Type 30 was the catalyst for Bugatti’s success. The spirit in which Ettore created the Type 30 is maintained in every Hypercar that comes out of our Molsheim Atelier to this day.”