Bugatti Type 35 “Grand Prix” – The Ultimate Racing Legend

This large and rare project framed is based on the iconic Bugatti poster designed by Roger Soubie, celebrating the Bugatti Type 35 “Grand Prix”, a legendary sports car developed by the French manufacturer Bugatti during the second half of the 1920s.

With an unmatched racing record, boasting over two thousand competition victories, including five consecutive wins at the Targa Florio, the Type 35 is not only the most famous Bugatti ever built, but also one of the most influential cars in the history of the automobile. It was during this era that the myth of the Bugatti “Pure Blood” racers was born.

Designed from 1924 in the Bugatti workshops of Molsheim-Dorlisheim in Alsace, the Type 35 underwent numerous mechanical developments, mainly focused on its inline eight-cylinder engine. These evolutions led to a wide range of variants: Type 35, 35A, 35C, 35T, 35B, 37, 37A, 39, and 39A.

Renowned for its exceptional elegance, the Type 35 also introduced major technical innovations to the automotive world. Approximately 640 units were built until 1930. Although not particularly powerful — with engines producing between 60 and 140 horsepower — the Type 35 dominated Grand Prix racing for nearly a decade, thanks to its balanced handling, reliability, and mechanical efficiency.

THE BUGATTI POSTER BY ROGER SOUBIE

This poster by Roger Soubie is one of the absolute masterpieces of automotive advertising art of the 1920s–1930s. It goes far beyond a simple depiction of a car: it stages speed, power, and the mechanical genius of Ettore Bugatti.

Composition and Dynamism

The Bugatti Type 35 is shown from a dramatic high-angle perspective, leaping out of the frame as if propelled by a golden wave symbolizing speed and pure energy. This bold composition conveys an impression of extreme motion, almost futuristic for its time.

Graphic Style

The style is unmistakably Art Deco:

• streamlined forms

• taut, dynamic lines

• strong contrasts

• powerful colors (Bugatti blue, yellow, ochre)

The almost mechanical and geometric treatment of the car reinforces the sense of precision, mastery, and modernity.

Message and Symbolism

Soubie transforms the Type 35 into a heroic, nearly mythological icon. No longer a mere industrial object, it becomes a machine of conquest, embodying Bugatti’s implicit philosophy:

racing as both art and science.

Rarity and Significance

Original Bugatti posters by Roger Soubie are today extremely rare and highly sought after, both by art collectors and automotive enthusiasts. They represent a perfect alliance between industry, sport, and artistic creation, making them major works of the visual heritage of the 20th century.

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