After the Lamborghini Countach and Revuelto, Amalgam Collection has created a special edition called “Man and Machine,” reproducing both a car, the Bugatti Type 59, and its driver Jean-Pierre Wimille who raced at Spa-Francorchamps during the Belgian Grand Prix on July 14, 1935. As Amalgam Collection Director Sandy Copeman said, “Bugatti Type 59 with Jean-pierre Willime is just the beginning of the new collection“.
This special 1:8 scale edition is limited to just five model and figure pairings, three of which have already been purchased by prominent collectors at a cost of £20,755 or €25,530 each (190.309 DKK).
Over 5000 hours of work for the Bugatti Type 59
The Amalgam Bugatti Type 59 is the result of approximately 5000 hours of design and development, starting with a detailed digital scan of an original Type 59, chassis 59122. From there, the Amalgam team worked on CAD before 3D printing and manually working on hundreds of models. Specifically, each 52-centimeter piece required 500 hours to be cast, finished, painted, and assembled.
Molds were made, and each part was cast in prototype resin, then finished, painted, and assembled into these small works of art. It’s worth noting that the original prototype was only approved by Bugatti historians when they were completely satisfied with the reproduction.
The model has a completely removable hood, attached to the body with scaled leather straps, underneath which you can admire an equally detailed reproduction of the supercharged 3.3-liter inline eight-cylinder engine. There are also cable brake connections, perfectly engineered piano wire wheels, and only the wheels are made up of 80 components, again assembled after extensive work.
Those who wish can also request weathering, and the folks at Amalgam will modify the model to replicate a post-race condition. The ultimate expression of Bugatti’s Grand Prix car, the Type 59, was a testament to the extraordinarily creative talents of Ettore and Jean Bugatti. In an era when the art of racing car design was likely surpassed by science, the Type 59 remained competitive despite its continued use of “antique” mechanics. It remains Bugatti’s last victorious Grand Prix car.
As mentioned, the car is paired with Jean-Pierre Wimille on a scale, considered one of the greatest drivers of all time and a great example for Juan Manuel Fangio. It was he who kept Bugatti competitive over time.
How does Amalgam create
Amalgam’s models are recreated in meticulous detail through an extensive process. It starts with the manufacturer’s original CAD or accurate digital scans with hundreds of original car photographs.
Silicone molds are then created to feature every detail, and from these, prototype resin is used to cast the different parts. There are about 20-30 parts per mold, so each time a new one needs to be created. Also, because each model is composed of thousands of parts, including CNC-machined metal components, castings, and photo etchings, it takes between 2,500 and 4,500 hours to develop the mold for each model.
Furthermore, Amalgam uses original automotive paints or the closest possible to the original to make the model realistic, and for all the finishing touches, it can take another 450 hours.