The background for this ‘ster crazy series is here. Also, it was just over five years ago that I first strayed into the truckster realm. today . . . after sitting on these photos too many months, let’s do . . .
Roadster. Imagine you have a Triumph Vitesse, early 1960s, a unique car, but really want a Bugatti, Type 59; however, you can’t afford the difference on a trade-in. On the other hand, you possess skills . . . of imagination and metal fabrication and mechanical adaptation.
Here’s what the builder, Robin Denny, wrote late August in response to a steam truck/car made of recycled parts: ” A little more re-cycling and a little less thrown away would be good for the world. Thirty years ago I built a copy Bugatti [roadster] on which every part was junk, scrap, or secondhand, except the wheels, brakes, pistons and paint. [I then enjoyed driving it for] 62,000 miles.” Of course, I asked for photos, ad this is what I got.
Strip everything off the frame, and modify it. The arches will define the body.
Here we’re looking from rear right side toward where the engine will go. Of course, everything has been modified.
Engine mounts are fabricated; the new engine location is back 28″ and lowered 4″.
Note the arches to define the body/cockpit with the gearshift in place, the imitation Bugatti radiator grille, and the original Triumph wheels.
Engine has now been linked/wired to controls, and steering has been fitted.
Closeup of the gas pedal, brake, and clutch.
Reservoirs mounted on the firewall. Note the rightside steering wheel and column. I am puzzled by the tire position, to the right.
Gas tank is mounted as are front lights. The snazzy wire wheels are mounted.
And here after hours of sheet metal fabrication . . . is the final product, as if I were a fixture in Jay Leno’s garage, a
scratch-built Bugatti Type 59 imitation roadster, plate number UGH 623F. I don’t know if the UGH makes this a vanity plate, reflecting the hours and hours of effort.
Kudos, Robin. I’d happily look at many more photos of the process and the completed roadster.
Apparently, others have also created Bugatti’s out of Triumphs, as in this example. Here‘s a Type 59 by the same replica creator.
Do read the comments for much more info about the Bugatti aka Bug since the completion.
tugster: a waterblog 
7 comments
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April 6, 2020 at 11:41 am
asrdriver
I think the oddly placed tire is a trial fit-up for the spare. I have to day this is impressive work. Nicely done
April 6, 2020 at 1:09 pm
tugster
From Robin Denny: “The Bug now bears a better registration number, VYH, since UGH seemed inappropriate. The donor car was a Triumph Vitesse. Very good with a fine engine/gearbox but it was crashed, busting both front and rear on the same day. I did not need the front or the rear, so bought the middle for £40 ($55 ?).
I decided I would build a roadster. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to do it or to weld. I learnt a lot very quickly to NEVER do it yourself. Fortunately, in my research I met Mike King, a remarkable but eccentric man who worked on Concorde and rebuilt John Surtees’ wrecked F! racing Coopers. He designed and built his own racing cars and replicas such Mercedes SSK, Le Mans Bentleys, racing ERA monoposto, several Replica Bugattis. For example, a crashed Renault 5 became a Morgan 3-wheeler with in a week. If he did not like you he would not build for you, whatever the price.
I stripped the Vitesse, Mike took the chassis and modified it very extensively and accurately so that everything just dropped into place. Lighter front springs came from a Triumph Spitfire while the rear transverse leaf was re-forged 5 times to get it right. Back axle, gearbox and engine are standard but I added overdrive and spent six weeks rebuilding the engine, balancing flywheel/crank, conrods, pistons and combustion chambers, and new valves and guides. She would comfortably pull overdrive top gear at 10mph., about 400rpm. She’s quiet and 440lbs. lighter than the standard Vitesse.
Bodywork was guided by Mike’s positioning of the bulkheads and frames and made by copying a kid’s outline drawing using scrap or secondhand aluminium or stainless steel. One part is a rejected hospital trolley. Almost everything is second hand or scrap!
New parts were restricted to crank, bearings, wheels, tyres and brakes. Mike made the copy radiator surround in stainless steel and cut the bonnet louvres, which I calculated would take me 3 weeks to make the tool and cut. I made up my own wiring system using 12 fuses and 8 relays but now cannot remember what goes where. No failures ever.
The radiator badge is Mike’s (Schlechter)/ King. I refuse to put a true Bugatti badge there. That’s dishonest.
The result is satisfactory. Top speed is unknown and will probably remain so but, before “Les Flics” in France started checking, we reached 110mph several times. I’ve driven it 62,000 miles and the only breakdowns were due to dead batteries and one brake problem, rebuilt at the roadside. It is actually possible to “bump” start her on my own by pushing, jumping in to select 2nd. and letting up the clutch.
I’ve done 1200-mile round trips to Scotland, two- or three-week 2000-mile trips in France and a marvellous 2800-mile run Windsor (UK) to Torino (Italy), over the Alps so that my son could play the organ for a friend’s wedding.
After 30 years she still starts instantly, is still quick and has lasted far better than I have.
That’s it. A wee bit long so use any or all as you may wish or even just the photos. I like best the side view in the woods.
Thank you for contacting me. It has cheered me considerably in difficult times.”
And there you have it. Many thanks, Robin.
April 6, 2020 at 4:16 pm
MIke McMorrow
Truth is, other than the monetary value, it’s probably a much more fun car to own than a Bugatti. It’s not worth the GDP of a small country and you can drive it with abandon since it’s not “precious”. Really a fantastic project beautifully rendered. I expect if has drain holes in the cockpit if being driven around the UK without a top. Love it!
April 6, 2020 at 5:00 pm
Gene Clark
What a great story. Thank you. All of your postings are welcomed…. but this “off Base” item is very nice – Thank you.
Hells Kitchen Person
April 6, 2020 at 10:06 pm
The Bubbly,Tipsy Mermaid (TIB)
Swanky and shark!🐋💦
April 8, 2020 at 5:15 am
Robin Denny
Thank you. You are very kind. Bug cost approx. £2,500. At 30mph much of the rain scoops over the top but in Alberville rush hour and rain my son pulled out an umbrella. It was good to see the smiles of the locals.
Disclaimer: I was a pen-pusher in an office with no engineering training except at roadside breakdowns trying to get home.
April 8, 2020 at 3:15 pm
tugster
And finally this from Mr Denny: “The Teal replica Type 59 is superb, probably more accurate than mine but it does look a wee bit too big and is a bit heavy. I did consider a Jaguar or BMW straight six engine for mine but they were too big, too heavy and too expensive while cost of parts was high. VYH weighs only 732Kg., about 1600lbs. so the 2 ltr. engine does not have to work very hard. The aerodynamics may be better than modern sports cars, the frontal area being really just the radiator and wheels.”