1935 Bugatti Aerolithe Coupe Job #1109
Recreating one of the rarest and most exotic of the Type 57 Bugattis
The Aerolithe project uses chassis 57104, the earliest known Type 57 chassis, with matching transmission and rear end. The body will be completed in-house and will be built to exact standards and patterns of the original. The craftsmen of The Guild are creating the body using electron (magnesium) which is one of the lightest metals but poses many problems including combustibility.
The Aerolithe was often called the Electron car because Ettore Bugatti announced at the Paris Show that it had been built from aeronautical grade magnesium alloy. There were similarities with aircraft construction as many of the panels on the Aerolithe were riveted together. This proved to be safer than welding the volatile magnesium alloy.
Pictures of the 1935 Bugatti Aerolithe Process
Pictures of the Engine and Transmission
Original black and white photos