Bugatti introduced the Type 55 in 1931. The Type 55 was a road going sports car based on the Bugatti Type 51 race car. The Type 55 was powered by a 2.3L straight eight engine producing 130hp. As was common during the time of production, many Type 55 cars are designed and bodied by external coachbuilders, and of the 38 Type 55 examples built, 15 were finished by non Bugatti hands. The other 23 examples (16 roadsters, 7 coupes) were designed by Jean Bugatti and finished in house at Bugatti.