Named after the Col du Galibier pass in the Dauphiné Alps, the Type 57 Galibier was Bugatti’s factory designed and produced four-door sports saloon.

Originally the Type 57 was a pillarless coupe design with a suicide rear doors and later cars switched this arrangement with a central pillar for a suicide front door. Later cars also featured a cover over the fender-mounted spare tire.

Originally all the Galibiers were produced by Carrosserie Bugatti and some were bodied to the Bugatti design by Gangloff, Van Vooren and Graber.

The Galibier befitted from all the Type 57 engineering, development and upgrades throughout production. It used the twin-overhead camshaft 3.3-litre inline-8 which was good for 135 bhp in standard form.

Chassis arrangements included Rudge Witworth wire wheels, fifteen inch drum brakes and an uncluttered chassis having good strength. As with most Bugatti designs the Type 57 was relatively simple in design, but the result of complicated craftsmanship.

Many Galibiers have been rebodied over time into more sporting roadsters and the occasional cabriolet. Some of the these were done in period by factory coachbuilders, but many were done well into the post-war period with replica bodies.

Our estimate is that Bugatti produced 65 Galibiers throughout the three series of Type 57 production and 25% are now wearing different coachwork.

type	Series Production Car
production years	1933 – 1939
built at	Molsheim, Alsace, France
body stylist	Jean Bugatti
coachbuilder	Carrosserie Bugatti
engine	Inline-8
position	Front Longitudinal
aspiration	Natural
valvetrain	gear-Driven DOHC, 2 Valves per Cyl
fuel feed	Single Updraft Stromberg UUR-2 Carburettor
displacement	3245 cc / 198.02 in³
bore	72 mm / 2.8 in
stroke	100 mm / 3.9 in
power	100.7 kw / 135 bhp @ 4500 rpm
specific output	41.6 bhp per litre
bhp/weight	82.82 bhp per tonne
redline	5000
body / frame	Body over Steel Frame
driven wheels	RWD
wheel type	18 Inch RudgeSpoked Wire
front tires	18 x 5.50
rear tires	18 x 5.50
front brakes	Cable Operated Drums
rear brakes	Cable Operated Drums
front wheels	F 45.7 x 12.7 cm / 18 x 5 in
rear wheels	R 45.7 x 12.7 cm / 18 x 5 in
f suspension	Rigid Axle w/Semi-Elliptic Springs, Hartford Friction Shock Absrobers
r suspension	Live Axle w/Reversed Quarter-Elliptic Springs, Hartford Friction Shock Absorbers
curb weight	1630 kg / 3594 lbs
wheelbase	3300 mm / 129.9 in
front track	1350 mm / 53.1 in
rear track	1350 mm / 53.1 in
transmission	4-Speed Manual
tran clutch	Single Dry Plate
final drive	4.16:1
top speed	~152.85 kph