Rare Car Archive

Makes › Bugatti France › Type 51 Grand Prix · Factory competition · 1931–1935 Ultra Rare

Bugatti
Type 51 Grand Prix

Twin-cam successor to the Type 35 (Monaco GP winner 1931)

Still being researched: why it matters, history, identification guide, full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix (Wikimedia Commons search)
Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Thesupermat / Freisteller von Auge=mit · CC BY-SA 4.0
40BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
40 Built
Years
1931–1935
Engine
Inline eight-cylinder · 2,300 cc / 2.3 LFactory: 2.3 L
Power
134 kW / 182 PSFactory: 180 hp · converted
Top speed
225 km/hFactory: 140 mph · converted
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

How rare is it?

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

Model rarityUltra Rare 40 · Built1
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productioncars built 401 Factory production Independently researched

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

History

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Type 51 Grand Prix.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutInline eight-cylinder2 Independently researched
Displacement 2,300 cc / 2.3 LFactory: 2.3 L2 Independently researched
Bore 60 mmFactory: 60 mm2 Independently researched
Stroke 100 mmFactory: 100 mm2 Independently researched
Compression ratioNot yet verified
ValvetrainDual overhead camshafts2 Independently researched
Fuel systemNot yet verified
InductionSupercharged2,3 Independently researched
Power 134 kW / 182 PSFactory: 180 hp · converted2 Independently researchedSupercars.net (level D) lists 160 bhp and says the twin-cam head added about 20 hp over the Type 35B; conflict not resolved.
Power atNot yet verified
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxNot yet verified
GearsNot yet verified
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionSolid beam front axle on semi-elliptic springs2 Independently researchedSource describes the architecture of all Bugatti models.
Rear suspensionSolid rear axle on quarter-elliptic springs2 Independently researchedSource describes the architecture of all Bugatti models.
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
WheelbaseNot yet verified
LengthNot yet verified
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 225 km/hFactory: 140 mph · converted2 Independently researchedStated for the Type 51 Dubos Coupe car.
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

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

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

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

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix Specifications - Ultimatecarpage.com Level C
    • 40 cars built
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  2. 2
    The Bugatti Type 51 Dubos Coupe - The Racecar and the Road Car (Car Collector Magazine, Jan 2005) Level C Heacock Classic · 2019-02-19
    • 8-cylinder inline with dual overhead cams
    • 2.3 liters or 136.5 cubic inch swept volume
    • bore x stroke of 60mm x 100mm
    • dual overhead cams
    • supercharged 2.3-liter dual overhead cam motor
    • Output was rated at 180 horsepower
    • solid beam axle pierced by semi-elliptic springs
    • solid rear axle suspended by quarter elliptic springs
    • capable of speeds reaching 140mph
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  3. 3
    1931 Bugatti Type 51 Dubos Coupe Level D Supercars.net
    • Straight-8 w/Roots Supercharger
    Accessed 2026-11-12

Keep exploring

More from Bugatti

See all 90 cars by Bugatti →

France More from France

70 other makes from FranceACMAAixamAlcatelAlpineAmilcarArzensAvions VoisinBACBallotBerlietBolloreBuccialiCGCharron, Girardot et VoigtChenard-WalckerCitroënClément-PanhardDAMSDarracqDBDB (Deutsch-Bonnet)De DietrichDe Dion-BoutonDe Dion, Bouton et TrépardouxDe La ChapelleDelageDelahayeDelaunay-BellevilleDerbyDSExagonFacel VegaFarmanFord FranceGentyGordiniHommellHopiumHotchkissJimenezAll makes →