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+--- Thread: Austin Seven v Bugatti (/showthread.php?tid=8665)
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Austin Seven v Bugatti - Colin Morgan - 17-06-2023
It is interesting to compare the chassis of an early '20s Bugatti with a Seven. The Bugatti's use 1/4 elliptic rear springs is interesting - the fact that they were mounted the other way round - from the very back of the chassis extended beyond the rear axle led to exceptional handling. Would the story of the Seven be different if Sir Herbert had adopted this layout, I wonder?
Bugatti chassis drawing.jpg (Size: 39.06 KB / Downloads: 463)
RE: Austin Seven v Bugatti - worthidlj - 17-06-2023
But would it have detracted from Austin's original ethos of KISS (Keep It Simple Stanley) and meant it would have cost more to make with the extra material needed.
The 7's A-Frame also acts as the spring holders whereas there are dedicated spring supports for the Bugatti layout.
Would certainly have made it more popular than it already was in motorsport I reckon.
RE: Austin Seven v Bugatti - Colin Morgan - 17-06-2023
Agreed - nowhere near as simple. Did anyone ever modify a Seven chassis to give it reversed 1/4 elliptic rear suspension, I wonder? (Could bolt an extension into chassis where springs usually go?)
Seems Ettore also liked splash lubrication.
RE: Austin Seven v Bugatti - Alan - 17-06-2023
He did. It was a bit more sophisticated than ours though.
RE: Austin Seven v Bugatti - Colin Morgan - 18-06-2023
Some of the early Bugatti cars only had one jet - though later ones had two, as per Sevens. What was more sophisticated - the geometry?
Seems some early Bugatti cars had a 6'6" wheelbase.
RE: Austin Seven v Bugatti - David Stepney - 18-06-2023
The Typ 13 Bugatti was designed to be a sporting car from the outset, and were aimed at a very different (and moneyed) market. The Seven, on the other hand was designed to woo motorcycle combinationists from their spartan machines to a vehicle with more creature comforts, and was priced accordingly.
Bugattis always were a car for the connoisseur and were expensive to buy and expensive to maintain. Throughout his car manufacturing career, Ettore only built about 10,700 cars in all. The Seven, on the other hand was designed to be simple, cheap, easy to maintain and, in the 17 years of production some 291000 were made.
It is true that the Seven was well designed and could, with some modification, be turned into a sporting car as evidenced by the design's racing history, but these cars were not the same as the standard production cars by any means. Many Bugattis, on the other hand, could virtually be taken from the dealer's showroom to the racetrack as built.
It IS interesting to compare the two designs, but I suspect that any similarities between the two reflect the general engineering ethos of the time rather than any similarity of design philosophy.
RE: Austin Seven v Bugatti - Colin Morgan - 18-06-2023
Seems that the lightness and small size seen in the Bugatti has a parallel in the Seven design that contributed to the design efficiency and low cost, even though the intent was very different. In both cases, focussing quality where it was needed, led to success in different markets.
The Bugatti chassis rail appears to be more slender when viewed from above than the Austin chassis. It was of a deeper section through the middle of the car where the bending is greatest.
RE: Austin Seven v Bugatti - Alan - 18-06-2023
It’s worth remembering that both the Austin 7 and the Type13 both have roots yin the Bebe Peugeot. However the Bugatti was never a cheap car and the design reflects this.
RE: Austin Seven v Bugatti - David Stepney - 18-06-2023
(18-06-2023, 12:19 PM)Alan Wrote: It’s worth remembering that both the Austin 7 and the Type13 both have roots yin the Bebe Peugeot. However the Bugatti was never a cheap car and the design reflects this.
And the Bebe Peugeot was designed by Bugatti.
RE: Austin Seven v Bugatti - Chris Garner - 18-06-2023
Alan, Interesting statement. Look out for the next Association Magazine!