Bugatti type 73

At Paris motorshow in october 1947, a completely new Bugatti car, the type 73 is exhibited. This is one of the last cars designed by le Patron, and exhibited few months after the death of Ettore Bugatti, on 21 august 1947.

The project for the Type 73 probably started prior to WWII. Different versions of the type 73 are planned: the 73, a sport car, powered by a straight 4 motor of 1.5 liter (70x95); the 73A passenger car equipped with a single cam engine (76x82) ; the 73C, a racing version with the same engine as the type 73 but a with a lighter chassis.

Built at the workshop located rue du Débarcadère, Paris, the prototype chassis is sent to the Carrosserie Pourtout, in Rueil, to be coach built as two-door saloon. The design of the body is very typical Bugatti late design; it can be seen as an evolution of the type 57S Atlantic and of the type 64, both due to the genius of Jean Bugatti, Ettore’s son.

The Paris motor show car has never been sold; it ended-up in Molsheim and was part of the factory cars acquired by Fritz Schlumpf in April 1963.
Repainted in cream color, this car can be seen today at the Cité de l’Automobile in Mulhouse.