1927 "Baby Bugatti" Recreation as Pedal Car
A French firm is selling unlicensed recreations of the 1927 Baby Bugatti. Their version is billed as a pedal car, unlike the battery-powered original, yet they say "battery-powered electric engine and wiring still have to be obtained by the prospective buyer." Perhaps there is a simple way to attach a motor to the drive train.
Or a not simple way! If you can swing €6,350 for a fancy go-kart, you can probably afford to hire a mechanic to rig the whole thing together.
Catalog Page [Singulier.com via Luxury Launches via Gadget Lab]
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An "Unlicensed Reproduction" of a car that first appeared 80 years ago? If there was ever a perfect example of the type of things that should be public domain, this is it.
That sure is pretty.
It really makes me want to see a modern full-scale version; one that has the same body but has a modern drivetrain, suspension, tires.. That would be pretty sweet.
Sweet! I have a picture of my 7 year old self somewhere sitting in one of the originals (at least I presume it was) at the Owls' Head Transportation museum in Maine. God how I wanted to take that thing home.
This is one of a number of high-quality T52 replicas available, including the French Violette (correctly electrically driven, and a snip at Euro 30,000!), the British Tulabug and the Argentinian Pur Sang.
Incidentally, Pur Sang also makes splendid recreations of the full-scale Type 35B Bugatti, as well as this beast.
Oh, and DCulberson, the problem with "modern drivetrain, suspension, tires..." is that they would radically change the look and stance of the Bug. Even a half-decent replica like the Teal is spoilt by its conventional front suspension, in my opinion.
In any case, with around 140hp and a kerb (sorry, 'curb') weight of about 750kg, a properly fettled T35B is pretty damn' fast anyhow. I seem to recall a UK road test of the 80's in which one outaccelerated a Porsche Turbo to 100mph (although the top speed would be 'only' about 120-130mph). The later twin-cam T51 weighs little more and can apparently put out 180hp. Scary!
RoadTransport, I guess you're right. On an otherwise beautiful car, nothing's uglier than seeing a Volkswagen front suspension sticking out! (Ugh!) [speaking from person experience, seeing a 20's Alfa Romeo replica, not commenting on the Teal.]