Since this June, a new and unique special exhibition has been on display at the Autovision Museum in Altlussheim near Hockenheim in Germany. The theme is "the last French Bugattis", i.e. the last vehicles of the T57 series produced in France at the Bugatti plant in Molsheim.
The museum
The museum permanently presents over 200 vehicles on more than 2,000 square meters of exhibition space. Exhibitions such as the world's largest pre-war exhibition on the NSU brand, the only permanent exhibition on the subject of Wankel or the exhibition concept with constantly changing, adequately didactically documented concept vehicles have made the museum internationally renowned since its inception.
The last French Bugattis
In another new exhibition area, a futuristic-looking, black glazed cube called the X-Cube, the last French Bugattis have been presented in a special exhibition since June 2015.
The last vehicles of the T57 series produced in France are on display here. Jean Bugatti, the son of company founder Ettore Bugatti, played a key role in this last great success between 1934 and 1938. This new exhibition on the Bugatti legend in Altlussheim differs fundamentally from the previous ones in that it concentrates exclusively on the most important vehicles of this short period.
Unique in Europe is the legendary T57 G. The vehicle, also known in racing history as the "Tank", first won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1937. A second victory was achieved in 1939 with only one registered car. A new feature at the time was the closed, streamlined body that protruded over the wheels, which made the cars significantly more streamlined.
Also very rare is the T57 Galibier "Visibilité" with glass roof, the sporty and elegant T57 Atalante model, the TT Competition, which was the fastest road-legal automobile in the world at the time, and a completely unrestored, original vehicle from the famous "Schlumpf Reserve Collection", a T57 Berline Gangloff.
The museum is also exhibiting a T57 SC Kompressor without bodywork, whose technical refinements can be admired from all sides thanks to a turntable.
Until the end of the year
The new special exhibition can be seen at no extra charge for normal museum admission and is expected to continue in this form until the end of the year.
The museum is open from Thursday to Sunday and admission costs 6 euros for adults and 5 euros for concessions. Further information can be found on the museum's website.
