One off
The unique 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid Gangloff is surrounded by mystery. It is a true masterpiece of automobile engineering, The beautiful vehicle was built by the legendary Italian-French car manufacturer Ettore Bugatti and designed by coachbuilder Gangloff. This unique car was presented at the Paris Salon in 1934 as a one-off. Initially 10 Grand Raid chassis were going to be built but in the end just this one, with chassis number 57222 was constructed.
Unique design
One of the most remarkable things about the car is the beautiful design of the coachwork. It is constructed from lightweight aluminium and the flowing lines and round shapes give an impression of speed, even when the car is stationary. The famous horseshoe-shaped grille is a typical Bugatti design element. Characteristic details of the design are the streamlined and long wings, the v-shaped windscreen and the aerodynamic headrests. The angle of the steering column was modified to allow the driver to sit further back. The gear lever, handbrake lever and pedals were also altered.
Colours of the Bugatti family
The first colour that springs to mind when you mention Bugatti is blue, the national racing colour of France, but the Grand Raid is black and yellow. These were Ettore Bugatti’s favourite colours and used by the Bugatti family. The design and colour scheme of the Bugatti W16 Mistral that was presented in 2022 was inspired by the the Louwman Museum’s Bugatti Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid.
Roadster Grand Raid
The name evokes a feeling of adventure. The word ‘Raid’ is a French term for a long-distance rally though inhospitable terrain such as a desert. Bugatti chose the name deliberately for this extremely sporty version of the Type 57 with its two aerodynamic bulges at the rear, resembling the contours of an aircraft.
Interesting provenance
Shortly after Ettore Bugatti surprised the world with this beautiful design at the Paris Salon, the Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid Gangloff took part in the Paris-Nice-Paris rally with Pierre Veyron at the wheel. The first Bugatti hypercar of the modern Bugatti era was named after Veyron. Robert Benoist triumphed with this Bugatti in the Chavigny hill climb in April 1935. In 1946 the car was sold to the first of its post-war owners. It has been part of the Louwman Museum collection in The Hague since 2001. The Grand Raid is displayed exactly as it was at the Paris Salon in 1934.
Come and see the Bugatti Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid Gangloff for yourself!
