Description
The Bugatti Type 64 Coach was one of the final automotive projects envisioned by Jean Bugatti before his untimely death in 1939. Designed as a sleek, four-seat grand tourer, the car reflected Jean’s deep interest in aerodynamic styling and technical innovation. Only one body was ever completed, and just a few chassis were produced, making the Type 64 an incredibly rare and mysterious piece of Bugatti history.
The design of the Type 64 drew inspiration from the dramatic lines of the Type 57SC Atlantic, but introduced new elements that hinted at the future of automotive form. Among its most innovative features were gull-wing-style doors, a remarkable concept for the 1930s, and a smooth, riveted body structure that prefigured aircraft construction techniques. The low roofline, sculpted fenders, and flush surfaces gave the car a futuristic silhouette far ahead of its time.
Beneath its elegant exterior, the Type 64 shared its underpinnings with the Type 57, utilizing a ladder-frame chassis with a long 3,302 mm wheelbase. The engine was an enlarged version of the 3.3-liter straight-eight used in the Type 57, bored out to around 4.4 or even 4.7 liters depending on configuration. Power was delivered through a four-speed pre-selector gearbox, and braking was handled by hydraulic drums—a step forward compared to earlier cable-operated systems.
Jean Bugatti’s tragic death in 1939 halted development of the Type 64, and much of the car remained incomplete for decades. Only one body was ever mounted on a chassis, and the remaining frames sat in storage, unfinished. It wasn’t until the early 21st century that efforts were made to bring the design to life. The Mullin Automotive Museum in California undertook the careful restoration and completion of one of the surviving chassis, using Jean Bugatti’s original drawings and period techniques.
Today, the Bugatti Type 64 Coach stands as a poignant reminder of what could have been—a blend of visionary design and technical brilliance, cut short by fate. It is a unique symbol of Jean Bugatti’s genius and the lasting legacy of the Bugatti marque in the golden age of motoring.