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The best Bugatti in history – meet the world’s most iconic supercars
The first carmaker to treat automobiles as art, here are ten of Bugatti’s most iconic motors
nCalled 'the tank' when it was built in 1932, the Type 32 was Bugatti's first attempt at aerodynamic design. The model boasted an 80 horsepower, 4-cylinder straight-8 engine and a 3-speed transmission. The power train was housed within the body, built in the same shape of the wing. The Type 32 could hit speeds of 18
Bugatti Type 35
nAfter debuting at the Grand prix Lyon in 1924, the Type 35 became the dominant race car of its day. Themodel would win or place in over 2,000 races in the decade after, including the Grand Prix World Championship in 1926, as well as five consecutive victories at the Targa Florio. It had a 2-litre overhead cam straight-9 engine that could produce 90 horsepower and speeds up to 145kph.
Bugatti Type 41 Royale
nThe 41 Royale was the realization of what Ettore Bugatti thought royalty should ride in. Produced from 1926 to 1933, the Type 41 was the most expensive car in the world at the time. Unfortunately, its introduction just preceded the Great Depression, when even monarchs held on to their money. As such, of the six examples every made, only three were ever sold.
Bugatti Type 50 Superprofilée
nThe Type 50 was an enhanced version of Bugatti’s Type 46 grand tourer, but with a bigger engine under the hood. The car boasted a 5-litre straight-8 engine that Bugatti equipped with two overhead camshafts and two diagonal vales. The result was a rear-wheel-drive car that could it speeds up to 180kph, and go from zero to 100 in about 8 seconds. Not bad, for something made in 1930.
Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport
nDesigned by Jean Bugatti, the Super Sport was one of the marque’s Grand Prix entries. Underneath a chassis modelled after the Type 47, the roadster was powered by a 2.3-litbre engine capable of 130 horsepower. The Super Sport was designed around a 4-speed gearbox that propelled it around the track at speeds up to 180 kilometres per hour. Only 38 examples were built during its production from 1931 to 1935.
Bugatti Type 57
nWidely regarded as one of the most beautiful cars to have ever been designed, the Bugatti Type 57 would define the marque’s automotive artistry, and become its most famous model in history. Designed by Jean Bugatti and produced from 1934 to 1940, there were five versions: the Ventoux, Stelvio, Galibier, Aravis and Atalante. One model, the Type 57SC Atlantic, was produced in magnesium, adding aesthetic value to a design that was already an art deco dream. Only four were ever made, and three known to exist today. Each car today carries an estimated value of US$40 million.
Bugatti Type 101
nIntroduced in 1951, the 135 horsepower grand tourer was the last production model produced by Bugatti before it closed down. it featured the same chassis as a Type 57, with an engine that could propel it to speeds north of 135kph. Other than a few prototypes built after the Molsheim factory was closed in 1956, the Tope 101 would be the last to feature the name of the brand for another four decades.
Bugatti Automobili EB 110
nHaving laid dormant since 1956, Bugatti was resurrected as Bugatti Automobili by Italian investor Romano Artioli. Under Artioli, Bugatti made one vehicle, the EB 110 supercar. Debuting on what would have been the founder’s 110th anniversary, it was the first ever car to sport a carbon-fibre chassis. Other never-before-seen features included permanent four-wheel drive, a 6-speed gearbox and 560 horsepower under the hood. It could go from 0 to 100 in just 3.2 seconds, with a top speed of 350kph.
Bugatti Veyron
nArtioli and Bugatti Automobili ran into financial troubles in 1995, but was reborn again in 1998 under the ownership of Volkswagen. In 2005, the marque released the 1,001 horsepower Veyron (named after famed racer Pierre Veyron). The fastest production car in the world, the car went from 0 to 100 in just 2.46 seconds. Production ended in 2015, after the planned 450 examples were manufactured.
Bugatti Chiron
nThe latest motor from Bugatti, the Chiron is the new fastest and highest-powered production sports can in history. Named after the famous Formula 1 racer Louis Chiron, the coupe boasts 1,500 horsepower and a top speed of 420 kilometres per hour (thanks to an 8-litre, W-16 engine with four turbochargers). Limited to just 500 examples, the Chiron will be on roads this September. Starting price is about US$2.6 million.
