Following victories for the 16 valve Bugatti Type 13 in the 1920 VIII Coupe des Voiturettes at Le Mans and 1921 I Gran Premio delle Vetturette run in Brescia demand for touring vehicles powered Bugatti’s 16 valve 4 cylinder motors, known post 1921 as the ‘Brescia’, began to rise.

To meet the demand in 1920 Ettore fitted the Brescia 16 Valve motor into the Type 23 boat tale tourer first seen in eight valve form in 1913.

The Type 23 Brescia Tourer thus became the first 16 valve mass production vehicle with 2000 units sold before production was halted in 1926.

Well known as a bit of a curmudgeon on the issue of front brakes Ettore did not sanction them as standard items on the Type 23 until the final year of production 1926.

Today’s featured Type 23 Brescia Tourer, seen at Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, was delivered new to a Czechoslovakian customer in 1926.

It underwent a two year restoration in 1990/91 and is I believe currently owned by a Trustee of the Bugatti Trust.

Thanks for joining me on this “1st Mass Production 16 Valve” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again when I’ll be looking at some small cars at Carmel by the Sea. Don’t forget to come back now !