The 1939 Bugatti Type 57 Voll & Ruhrbeck Roadster is a rare and exquisite piece of automotive history

The 1939 Bugatti Type 57 Voll & Ruhrbeck Roadster is a rare and exquisite piece of automotive history. With its sleek lines and powerful engine, it was a true masterpiece of design and engineering. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at this iconic car and explore its history, design, and legacy.

History of the Bugatti Type 57

The Bugatti Type 57 was first introduced in 1934 as a successor to the Type 49. It was designed by Jean Bugatti, the son of company founder Ettore Bugatti. The Type 57 was a high-performance sports car that was intended to compete with other luxury brands like Bentley and Rolls-Royce. Over the years, several variations of the Type 57 were produced, including the Type 57C, which featured a supercharged engine, and the Type 57S, which had a shorter wheelbase and a more powerful engine.

The Voll & Ruhrbeck Roadster

The Voll & Ruhrbeck Roadster was one of the most distinctive versions of the Bugatti Type 57. It was designed by Joseph Voll and Fritz Ruhrbeck, two German coachbuilders who were known for their innovative and avant-garde designs. The Voll & Ruhrbeck Roadster was first introduced in 1939, and only two examples were ever produced.

Design

The design of the Voll & Ruhrbeck Roadster was a departure from the more traditional Bugatti designs of the time. It featured a long, sweeping hood, a short cockpit, and a tapered rear end. The body was made entirely of aluminum, which helped to keep the weight of the car down. The exterior of the car was finished in a rich shade of blue, which was accented by chrome trim and a set of distinctive wire-spoke wheels.

The interior of the car was equally impressive. It featured leather upholstery, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, and a dashboard that was covered in a unique pattern of embossed leather. The instrument cluster was simple but elegant, with large, easy-to-read gauges for speed, fuel level, and engine temperature.

Legacy

The Bugatti Type 57 Voll & Ruhrbeck Roadster is considered one of the most beautiful and desirable cars of all time. Its rarity and unique design have made it a favorite among collectors and enthusiasts alike. In 2013, one of the two original Voll & Ruhrbeck Roadsters was sold at auction for over $9 million, making it one of the most expensive cars ever sold.

Today, the Bugatti brand is still considered one of the most prestigious and exclusive names in the automotive world. The company has continued to produce high-performance sports cars that are renowned for their speed, power, and beauty. The legacy of the Bugatti Type 57 Voll & Ruhrbeck Roadster lives on, inspiring a new generation of designers and engineers to push the limits of what’s possible in automotive design.