Surely the last in the purest of blood lines of Grand Prix racing cars, commencing with the Type 35 Bugatti, the exquisitely engineered Type 59 Bugatti was the final development of this remarkable genre and arguably marked the moment in Grand Prix car design when art was superseded by science.

Bugatti’s final foray as a team entrant in Grand Prix racing was with the Type 59, considered in its day and even now as the most elegant pre-war racing car ever.

The Type 57 engine was the basis of the design of the power plant, initially in 2.8 litre form (72 x 88mm), with twin camshafts, dry sump lubrication and a lightened crankshaft.

The supercharged unit was said to develop some 230bhp.

This power plant was mounted in what was effectively a shortened version of the Type 54 chassis, with wheelbase and track wider and longer than the Type 35 variety.

Power was transmitted through a multi-plate clutch to a double reduction type rear axle.

Suspension was pure Bugatti with reversed quarter...