Bugatti
Type 32 "Tank"

Why it matters

The Type 32 was Bugatti's 1923 works racing car with an enveloping streamlined 'Tank' body, an early experiment in racing aerodynamics. Only four were made, and most of the car apart from Type 30-derived engine parts was unique to the type.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Built in 1923, the Type 32 used a two-litre, eight-cylinder engine drawn largely from the Type 30, with three valves per cylinder and about 90 bhp. Its very short 78.5-inch wheelbase and the three-speed gearbox built into the rear axle set it apart from other Bugattis of the period, as did hydraulic brakes at the front with cable brakes at the rear.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Key features: the streamlined 'Tank' body, a 78.5 in (2 m) wheelbase and 41.4 in track, gearbox in the rear axle with central change lever, front hydraulic and rear cable brakes, wire wheels with 28 x 4 straight-sided tyres, and an engine of 60 x 88 mm bore and stroke with two Zenith carburettors.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   The Bugatti Trust – Type 32 data page Level A

   • 4 cars built

   Accessed 2026-11-11
2. 2
   Bugatti Type 32 Level A The Bugatti Trust

   • 8 cylinders; 1 overhead camshaft; 3 valves per cylinder
   • 1991 cc
   • 60 x 88 mm
   • approx. 90 BHP
   • Gearbox in rear axle; 3 speeds plus reverse
   • Wheelbase 78.5 ins (2 m)

   Accessed 2026-11-11