Rare Air: This Video Featuring The Rebuild Of A 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Compresseur Engine Is Amazing


Rare Air: This Video Featuring The Rebuild Of A 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Compresseur Engine Is Amazing

When does engine building go from scene to art? When does simply “building an engine” not really cover the process of working on a hunk of internal combustion history? We’re going to say that when you watch this video you are going to ask the same question because the process of rebuilding this Bugatti engine that is more than 80 years old is more art than science. It is careful machining, it is loving care, and it is also hot rodding as this engine started life as a naturally aspirated piece and ended up with a factory blower on it to raise the power and make it s “Compresseur” engine.

This is definitely not the typical engine building video. This is 30 minutes that takes us through so much of the process that we loved every second. And it lands on the dyno with the engine running and making some really nice noise. The whine of the blower, the rumble of the straight eight layout, and the look of an engine that seems completely hand crafted all combine to really make this a special visual document.

One of the parts that had us nerved up and that certainly proves the skills of the builder here is the part where the oil drain back tubes are machined out and replaced. Running a drill into the block, a block that you have virtually no hope of replacing, is bolt and awesome. Of course it works out well and everything is ok but man that is confidence!

Engine building as art over science? Here it is!

Press play to see the story of building a blown 1937 Bugatti Type 57 straight eight –


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