1932 Bugatti Type 54GP
This 1932 Bugatti Type 54GP recreation of Kaye Don’s famous “Tiger Two” now offered for sale employs a majority of original parts painstakingly collected over a period of decades by world renowned pre-war Bugatti expert and restorationist Ray Jones. This Type 54 was completed in its displayed form in the early 2000’s and is currently undergoing a mechanical restoration by Ray’s son, Greg. This Type 54 is available in its current condition, but will continue to proceed with its mechanical restoration in the meantime. Interested parties are more than encouraged to inquire at inquiries@type54gp.com and/or visit the "Current Status" page to observe the restoration's progress.
Type 54’s gained notoriety immediately after their inception when Archille Varzi secured 3rd place in the Type 54’s debut at Monza in 1931. The Type 54 would secure 5 Major Grands Prix victories between 1931 and 1933 with Count Stanislaus Czaikowski and Kaye Don taking 1st and 2nd at Brooklands for the Empire Trophy Event. Additionally a Type 54 driven by Count Czaikowski would set the 1 hour speed record at Avus in 1933, where Type 54’s would also take 1st and 2nd places in the Grand Prix.
“Tiger Two,” chassis 54203, was delivered to Kaye Don in January 1932 with engine number 2. Over the winter of 1932/33 Tiger 2 was returned to the factory in Molsheim and was rebuilt with the engine placed lower and rearward in the frame. Tiger Two was also fitted with hydraulic brakes and wire wheels for the 1933 racing season. Tiger Two was raced by Kaye Don and Dudley Froy until the BRDC 500 at Brooklands in 1935.
The engine was then removed, sold to, and installed into Dick Wilkins’ Bugatti-Hassan-Wilkins Special. The BHW was a one off, specially designed racer commissioned by Wilkins, consisting of engine number 2 from Kaye Don’s Tiger Two and a frame specially designed by Walter Hassan to accommodate it. The BHW was then sold to Reg Parnell in early 1939, who raced with it until the outbreak of WWII. The BHW was then bought in the 1950’s by a Scottish shipping magnate named Edward Thompson. The engine was subsequently purchased by Ray Jones in 1966 and formed the initial basis of this project.
Original Bugatti parts include the aforementioned engine number 2 from Kaye Don’s “Tiger Two” Type 54, Chassis 54203, including original Zenith carburetors, supercharger, exhaust manifold, magneto, clutch, starter and flywheel. The engine retains its original hand cranking assembly and heat is dissipated through the original radiator.
Power is sent through a replica 4 speed transmission where it is then routed through the original driveline and rear axle with #2 and #5 gears. This same axle was utilized by Count Czaikowski to set his 1 hour speed record. Power is put to the ground through a matching set of Type 54 wheels which are factory numbered and dated, and are thought to be the only original set in existence. The original wheels are shod with 6.50x19 Dunlop tires at the rear and 6.0x19 at the front.
This Type 54 is suspended by original springs in their factory finish and suspension motion is damped by original and correct friction dampers. The front axle matches the rear in its originality. Speed is shed using original brake drums, shoes and backing plates. The frame is an exacting recreation made by Ray Jones who utilized the frame from Archille Varzi’s Type 54, Chassis 54210, which he owned for many years, as a template. The firewall and bulkhead were meticulously fabricated in a similar manner.
The cockpit is furnished with the original steering wheel and tachometer which is flanked by replica oil pressure and fuel gauges. The pedal box includes the original brake and clutch pedal shaft. Steering input is directed through the original steering mechanism. Braking and shifting are performed through original hand brake and gearshift levers. Additional driver inputs include the Ki-Gass pump, air pump, air selector and spark control lever, which are all original. Fluids are contained by original gas, oil and radiator caps. Additionally all fasteners are original. The fuel tank is a recreation faithful to the original design and construction. The entire package is clad in bodywork painstakingly recreated from factory drawings and is finished in red reminiscent of Kaye Don’s Tiger Two.
