The forgotten replica is (would be) a classic car today
01/28/2015
A few months ago, we reported on the Excalibur 35X , which was an Opel-mechanically powered reinterpretation of the Bugatti 35 in the 1960s. Ettore Bugatti's vehicles inspired a whole series of manufacturers to create imitation products. Some were (and still are) closer to the original, such as the PurSang versions (one will be auctioned in Paris in a good week's time), while others were further away, such as the versions usually powered by a VW rear engine.
In the 1970s, a replica was created that was visually quite successful and only made compromises in terms of technology; it was called the Molsheim II Bugatti.
The American magazine Road & Track was given the opportunity to test drive the replica and did not fail to compare it with the original.
The Molsheim II Bugatti was manufactured by Molsheim Motor Cars in Pasadena (California). The Molsheim II also resembled the original because many of the parts used were actually manufactured as spare parts for original Bugatti 35s. These included the wheels, for example, but also other add-on parts. What surprised the RT writers much more, however, was that the Molsheim II also drove like a Bugatti 35. At USD 17,500, however, the car was not exactly cheap, as you could have bought a used 300 SL Gullwing in good condition for that kind of money at the time.
At least the customer was (almost) free to choose the engine and gearbox for the Molsheim II and was also largely free to choose the suspension design.
In the version driven, a Ford engine with four cylinders and turbocharger was installed, which delivered 185 hp. However, at around 580 kg, the replica also weighed more than the Bugatti original. The RT test driver recorded 15.9 seconds for the quarter mile and the brakes were obviously also impressive. Incidentally, the installed automatic transmission could be shifted using the external gear lever as in the original.
The only question is what became of the few Molsheim IIs. Today, the replica itself would have matured into a classic car. Perhaps one of the Zwischengas readers knows the whereabouts of one of the remaining examples? Or were they all gutted because of the parts that could be used on the originals?
