Car Firsts

Photos: Lars-Göran Lindgren

23rd August 2007

Ettore Bugatti created the cast aluminium wheel as a way to reduce weight on his 1924 Type 35 grand prix racer. It was a simple and elegant eight-spoke design, and was widely seen on tracks across Europe, as Type 35s claimed more than 1,500 race wins between then and 1930.

In 1932, the alloy wheel made its road car debut on Bugatti’s 110mph Type 55 Super Sport Roadster, of which only 38 were sold in three years. The first British car with standard alloys was 1955’s HRG Twin-Cam – but only four of these were built.