Herbette Auction October 31, 2021

• 1931 Bugatti T49 Torpedo 4-seater, chassis 49125, Estimate €350,000 - 400,000: Not sold

Artcurial Auction, November 7, 2021

• 2000 Bugatti T43A Roadster Pur Sang replica, Châssis n° "43260", Estimate €250,000 - 350,000 , sold for €300,000 (apparently without premium ?)

Artcurial Auction, Automobiles sur les Champs, October 24, 2021

• 2005 Pur Sang 35B Bugatti replica, Châssis n° BO318, Estimate 180 000 - 220 000 €, Sold for 226 480 € inc. premium

Bonhams auction, The Zoute Sale, Belgium, October 10, 2021

• 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport, Chassis no. ZA9BB02EORCD39011, Sold for € 2,242,500 inc. premium

The car was actually sold to a lucky guy in the Netherlands!

How far can you go as an automobile manufacturer to get some additional cash? And maybe a bit of publicity?

We know that car manufacturers go a long way in putting their name on the strangest products, nothing to do with automobiles, of course. But what is the connection? If there is any?

Bugatti is one of those, and markets a whole lot of stuff, none of them made by themselves; clothing (probably one of few things you might actually be able to afford), furniture, impressive yachts, perfumes (do they actually, or was that just in the Artioli Era?), HiFi speakers and various other stuff I don't really care to remember.

The Bugatti Billiard (pool table actually, why not Snooker?) shown above has now actually been delivered for some luxurious man cave (probably nothing close to an actual cave, I wonder if the "man" part is correct). High Tech, self-levelling, carbon-fibre and etcetera, for a price like that of a house.

Now, the latest thing introduced carrying the name of our beloved marque is the thing shown below. Apparently it is designed to give you a smooth skin on your chin, and is even heated for more comfort... A brand known for shaving equipment, Gillette, is producing it, and you can get it in the same colour as your Chiron. Or maybe you can buy your Chiron to match the colour of your razor?

Don't ask me where you will be able to buy it or order it on-line, but those desperate enough, will surely be able to find it!

A pretty Bugatti can cost a few million euros. That doesn't bother Thomas Scholz, on the contrary: He buys one sports car after the other - and realizes too late that he is being cheated in the process. The case gives insights into the sometimes crazy world of the super-rich.

By Fritz Zimmermann, First published in the German newspaper "Die Zeit", August 24, 2020

Since ancient times, philosophers have discussed what it means for the identity of a ship to change each of its individual parts. In the end, is it still the same boat? And what happens when you build a second boat with the rejected parts: Which of the two boats is Theseus' ship? What's the original? And what about the copy?

Rain drips from the sky when Thomas Scholz opens the front door to his property with a remote control. The door has no handle, the windows are also without handles, because of the risk of break-ins, the whole building is highly secured. What is behind the front door is too valuable, a few steps down the stairs, in a hall-sized showroom: The Type 35 Bugatti, for example, its value: around two million euros. Or the Bugatti Type 13, around one million euros. These are names that only say something to people who are very interested in old cars. Or have a lot of money. Thomas Scholz, in his early 60s, says of himself that he is "wealthy". He earned his living in the logistics industry. He doesn't want to read more about himself in the newspaper, not even his real name. Scholz is a man who is used to winning. Anonymity is a condition for him to tell the story he calls a "negative life experience".

The showroom is located in a slight depression on his property, light falls through the curved glass front, a futuristic building that Scholz had built specifically for his cars. There are a total of 15 cars valued at »easily 20 million«, as Thomas Scholz says. There is also a Colani grand piano and photographic works by famous artists. And then there are the two cars in the center of the hall: the Bugatti Atlantic and the Bugatti Gangloff. He paid a good million euros for both vehicles together. They were his first vintage cars, vehicles from the 1930s. At least that's what he thought when he bought them 14 years ago. He now knows: The Bugattis were copied, they are copies. Scholz is convinced: He was betrayed. "Ripped off," as he calls it. That won't let him rest.

The case of Thomas Scholz is a rare moment in which one briefly gets a glimpse into the otherwise closed world of the super-rich. Where vehicles worth millions are sold as if they were toy cars. In which old sports cars are seen as prestigious investments, they are looked upon in the same way as expensive works of art. And now a dodgy affair bursts like an uninvited guest into a dinner. It revolves around the longstanding head of the historical department at Bugatti. The man conveyed the replica classic cars to Scholz.

It all started with the fastest car in the world. The Bugatti Veyron, 407 km/h top speed, 1001 hp, from 0 to 100 in 2.5 seconds. A car like from a quartet of cars (known game in Germany especially, the "trump cards"). The new price: 1.1 million euros. The Veyron was the first car Bugatti launched after Volkswagen took over the glorious brand in 1998. The company made only 300 of these. In the spring of 2006, on a sunny spring day, Thomas Scholz bought one of these vehicles. He remembers exactly how he went to Molsheim in Alsace with his wife. In 1910, Ettore Bugatti founded his automobile factory in Molsheim, and today Bugatti's headquarters are located there in a restored castle. Like all buyers, Scholz also had to pay 300,000 euros upfront for his new Veyron. Only then was he invited to the Alsatian castle for a test drive. During the journey, they were stopped by the police, fro driving much too quickly, of course. The Bugatti board member who accompanied him spoke to the police and the journey continued without penalty. Back at the factory, he chose the color and seats of his future car: his first Bugatti. Until then everything went according to plan.

Scholz, who looks rather inconspicuous, sits at the table in his huge showroom and continues talking about the big day back then. The board member said goodbye after the trip and introduced them to the head of the traditional department, who should continue to look after them for the day: Julius K.

He is the author of several standard works on the Marque and he is, for many, the greatest Bugatti expert today. This Julius K. showed them around the plant, they had a meal together, K. showed the couple pictures and miniatures of old cars. “I was amazed by the design,” says Scholz. Then K. said that one could even bring these old Bugattis back to life - and buy them too. You just had to have the right partner to avoid being cheated. He could establish such a contact for them. When they drive home after almost six hours, Scholz is delighted. "I thought: Wow, these are great cars."

You don't get too close to Thomas Scholz if you realize that at that point in time he didn't have the faintest idea of old Bugatti cars. In poker, players who have a lot of money but little idea what they are doing are called dead money. Scholz is easy prey. Three weeks later, says Scholz, there was a second meeting at the Bugatti headquarters. In addition to Scholz and Julius K., a third man had come: Hero A., the owner of a vintage car workshop near Osnabrück. He is the contact that K. had promised. At the turn of the millennium, Hero A. ran Sunburst AG, a dot-com company that promised millions in profits by marketing the brand rights for the Love Parade and Sesame Street, and shortly afterwards went into bankruptcy in a spectacular way.

It is unclear exactly how A. got into the classic car business. However, with the presence of Bugatti expert K., Scholz assumes that he can trust Hero A. They agree to buy two vintage cars that Hero A. is going to build for Thomas Scholz. Purchase price: one million euros. The draft contract has been submitted to ZEIT. Thomas Scholz, it says, commissioned A.'s company to build two Bugattis. And further: »They are replicas of the existing Bugattis of Ralf Lauren. “The Bugattis” will get an H-approval (oldtimer status) ”. "As many original Bugatti parts as possible" will be used for this. In this manner, the cars would meet the criteria of Pebble Beach. Once a year the biggest beauty contest for vintage cars takes place on the west coast of the USA, Julius K. is one of the judges there. The contract further states that K. will be available for advice and will act as an "arbitrator" in disputes. Scholz signs without hesitation. What can possibly go wrong under the supervision of Julius K.?

Norbert Schroeder laughs happily over the phone when he hears the story of Thomas Scholz' alleged Bugatti classic car. Because there is a question behind it that he has had to answer almost every day for years, and yet again and again: What exactly is it, an original classic car?
Schroeder is head of the Classic Cars department at TÜV Süd in Düsseldorf. If it goes to court or if there is any other dispute about the identity of a car, then Schroeder is responsible. An oldtimer is considered original, explains Schroeder, if it still has the original vehicle frame, the original axles, the steering wheel, the engine and the transmission. The so-called rolling chassis. The body, on the other hand, i.e. what the layman perceives as a car, can easily be renewed. In the reports, says Schroeder, the aim is to determine "the degree of originality": how much is left of the former car. It is the question of Theseus' ship. Reviewers like Schroeder have to answer this in the age of cars.

In the case of Thomas Scholz's two Bugatti oldtimers, says Schroeder, the situation is clear. The "replicas" of the Bugatti from Ralph Lauren described in the sales contract with "as many" original parts as possible are just that: replicas. They would never get an H-license plate for oldtimers from him in the TÜV, as it was promised in the contract. The orientation on the criteria of Pebble Beach is irrelevant, because it is only about the appearance of a car (This seems to be incorrect in the original article, Pebble Beach only accepts original cars, in principle), Ed.. A specialist would have recognized immediately that the contract could not be adhered to. "From today's perspective, I would not sign the contract because it is pure fraud," says Thomas Scholz. From today's perspective. Scholz describes the time after the purchase as a frenzy. He flies to autoshows in the UK and to the contest in Pebble Beach. Julius K. takes care of the admission tickets. In emails, K. offers him other vintage cars, Bugatti miniatures, books and an old Bugatti wristwatch. ZEIT has some of the e-mails. A 1:8 scale model costs 6500 euros. The watch is 159 euros. He buys the book Bugatti La Gloire for 550 euros. Julius K. wrote a dedication to him in one of his books: "You may be the only one who came to Bugatti through me." Scholz says he bought accessories for a total of around 20,000 euros, he often paid in cash, so he almost never has any receipts. "We were hungry," says Scholz. “And K. wanted to sell.” Even before the agreed cars are ready, Scholz orders three more Bugattis from Hero A.'s workshop. He seems obsessed with cars.
During this time, Scholz was given access to a reality that was new to him. The only admission ticket: your own Bugatti. Bugatti owners meet regularly in Germany. There are rallies in which only Bugatti drivers can take part. There are exclusive events at the castle in Molsheim, where the pianist Lang Lang played a concert a few years ago. And there were the so-called 400 drives, where owners of the Veyron could drive faster than 400 km/h on a test track under supervision and then have their name immortalized on a plaque at the company headquarters. For people who can buy anything, a Bugatti is a way to stand out from the crowd.

For Scholz, however, it soon becomes clear that Bugatti can also cause problems. The two Ralph Lauren Bugattis are still not ready two years after the order was placed. The test drive is delayed several times. When the time finally came, in summer 2009, he traveled to the Black Forest to drive his cars for the first time at a Bugatti meeting. The test drive becomes a disaster. From the beginning, he recalls, the car vibrated unusually strong, and after a few kilometers a wheel came loose when braking and overtook him. Hero A. will later write to him in an email that "at no point in time" was there any danger. A few months later, Scholz had his supposed classic cars delivered anyway and placed them in his showroom. They have been there to this day, for more than ten years.

The classic car market has changed. “It's no longer just enthusiasts who are interested in cars. There are also speculators,” says Norbert Schroeder from TÜV Süd. Prices have been rising for years, and payments are often made in cash or from foreign accounts. And so the industry also becomes interesting for a third group: the fraudsters.
Last summer it became known that the Aachen public prosecutor was investigating a workshop operator who is said to have sold more than 30 fake Porsche sports cars. Old models believed to be lost were suddenly considered "barnfinds" or "heirlooms" turned up again and sold for millions.

It is the first major investigation in Germany to pursue fraud involving vintage cars. "We are still at the very beginning in this field," said the investigating public prosecutor Jan Balthasar to the ZEIT. One of the anomalies during the investigation: Many of the owners are reluctant to be listed as victims in the proceedings.
Norbert Schroeder also says that he regularly experiences that clients of his appraisals withdraw their order if it becomes foreseeable that their car is not an original oldtimer. It's about hurt vanity, but above all about preventing the vehicle from depreciating, he says.

As with works of art, the value of a classic car is measured by how valuable people think it is. If the illusion is destroyed by an appraisal, the vehicle is only worth as much as the price of its individual parts. There are dozens of oldtimers, perhaps more, that are still admired at rallies, but which are little more than a pile of not-so-expensive sheet metal.

Thomas Scholz says he is quite strict in this. Such people should be stopped. That's why he accepted the depreciation of his classic cars. He sued in court against Julius K. and Hero A., among others, and demanded repayment of 1.3 million euros. He never received the last three vehicles he had ordered. But the court found that Julius K.'s involvement in a "joint fraud" was not apparent.

Hero A., however, was sentenced by the judges to repay around 750,000 euros to Thomas Scholz. But Hero A.'s workshop went bankrupt. In the bankruptcy documents, Scholz found an invoice written by Julius K., the Bugatti Pope. For the "acquisition of customer Mr. Thomas Scholz", it says, K. received a fee of 20,000 euros from the company. ZEIT has the invoice. Further documents show that K. also received monthly payments from the workshop. The "arbitrator," as he was called in the contract, was bought.
Thomas Scholz finally filed a criminal complaint against Julius K. and Hero A. for fraud. But the public prosecutor's office closed the investigation after a few weeks. The allegations were partly statute-barred, says Scholz. In any case, there is often testimony against testimony, many of the multi-million dollar agreements were made orally.

Scholz also turns to the Volkswagen ombudsman. Bugatti's parent company then started internal investigations, at the end of which the employment relationship with the head of the historical department Julius K. was terminated.

The ZEIT would have liked to talk to Volkswagen and Bugatti about the background to Thomas Scholz's case and the involvement of their colleague Julius K. But the company declined a request for an interview from ZEIT on the subject, as did several former Bugatti top managers who were familiar with the case. Julius K. and Hero A. also do not want to comment on ZEIT's request. The industry is silent.

One last phone call last week. Thomas Scholz talks about his Bugattis again. He now owns eleven. He's going to sell his collection, says Scholz suddenly. "I don't want to have anything to do with a scene like this," he says. His lifetime is too good for that. He has offered all of his Bugattis to a dealer, he only wanted to keep one. The rest is for sale.

Only: what are they worth?

The Bugatti Atlantic is one of the most expensive passenger cars in the world, when it's real....

On September 8, after a very short and sudden illness, our friend, Bugatti enthusiast and "Master of the engine rebuild" Bart Rosman died, aged 83.

I got to know Bart over 2 decades ago, when I was a young Bugatti enthusiast with no Bugatti, and was admitted to the world of the Bugatti Club Nederland. Bart was one who accepted everybody with a true Bugatti interest, regardless if you owned a Bugatti or not. It was the enthusiasm that mattered. Bart was also an esteemed member of the Bugatti Aircraft Association, just because he was interested in the technology, and was present in various BAA meetings. The only time when he was less friendly, was when the subject came to replica Bugattis, of which many exist these days. He was fiercely opposed to these "look alikes"!

Bart was more of a race driver than a slow classic-rally participant. In 1975 he was Dutch touring car champion (<2500cc class) racing an Alfa Romeo 2000GTV. Later he switched to classic racing, in his Ferrari 250 SWB and later his 275 GTB, both recognizable by their colour: Bugatti Blue. He also raced his Bugattis, first a Type 37, later a Type 35C, in International classic races. Most famous his participation in Monaco, somewhen in the early 2000's, when he kept racing while his car had caught fire.

Bart did all of his maintenance and preparation himself; I once visited him while he was busy assembling his T35C's (roller bearing) crankshaft, a very precise operation indeed!

On the top photo from a Dutch rally in 2016, Bart and his life-companion Tubien Wisse, who died in 2018. After Tubien died, we unfortunately saw him less often.

Bart, we will miss your friendly and enthusiastic presence! I hope heaven will have a special place for the Bugattiste, preferably a race track!

Kraig Mycock is in Brescia for the centenary and sent me some photographs.
In Brescia are present (amongst others) David Sewell, Franco Majno and Patrick Friedli.

The building on the original photo on the right, is now a Trattoria!

Left: Franco and Patrick, Right: The British Brescia's in August at Prescott

Worldwide Auctioneers Auburn auction, September 3/4, 2021

• 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante Coupe Chassis No. 57659, "57641", Estimate: undisclosed: Not sold

Witnesses report that the car did not reach it's reserve during the auction, but was sold after the auction
Worldwide Auctioneers state on their website that it was sold for 1.765 M$ (including costs, apparently), they tried to counteract the various reports about the false identity of the car, as reported on this website and others, by disclosing a David Sewell report from 2000, as well as various documents with numbers on various body panels. That action did not help to convince buyers to actually bid...
In 2000, not as much was known about the car as it is now. The details were disclosed in the American Bugatti Register and Data Book, 2018.

The timeless luxury, design and performance of Bugatti’s past creations has once again received expert endorsement, as the marque sets yet more auction records and receives yet more awards at the most prestigious automotive gathering in the world.

Celebrating its 70th anniversary, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has long been a showcase for Bugatti’s engineering excellence, stretching back to 1956 when the 1930 Bugatti Type 37 Grand Prix secured the marque’s first outright win with a ‘Best of Show’ accolade.

In 2021, Bugatti’s trophy cabinet welcomed further prizes, collecting two highly prestigious awards, granted by world-leading experts. Moreover, two auction records for individual Bugatti models were set at the Gooding & Company and RM Sotheby’s Pebble Beach 2021 classic car auction.

The renowned ‘Chairman’s Trophy’ is granted each year to a Concours d’Elegance entrant personally selected by long-standing chairwoman, Sandra Button. This esteemed award is granted only to the most deserving winner, which this year was the iconic Bugatti Type 35 B Grand Prix from 1929. Am I the only one to think this is strange? This particular car was at auction! Or was it some additional free (?) publicity? Ed.

The Type 35 B Grand Prix is globally recognized as one of the most successful racing cars of all time. An engineering marvel of its era, the Type 35 dominated races throughout the 1920s and 1930s, with this particular example - Chassis 4938 - winning the 1929 French and Spanish Grand Prix at the hands of racing legends Louis Chiron and William Grover-Williams.

With the automobile’s outstanding provenance and status as an icon of early Grand Prix racing, this Type 35 B was offered at the Gooding & Company Pebble Beach 2021 classic car auction and set a new record sale price for the model at $5,615,000, significantly exceeding the estimated auction value.

Fast-forward 65 years from 1929, and a pristine 1994 example of the Bugatti EB110 Super Sport also set a new model record at this year’s RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction. As the definitive super sports car of the 1990s just 39 examples of the EB110 Super Sport were ever produced, making this 610PS, 351 km/h titan an ultrarare offering. As the first super sports car with carbon fiber bodywork, all-wheel drive and quad-turbochargers, this specific example set the new model record at $2,755,000.

Joining the Type 35 B Grand Prix as a 2021 Concours d’Elegance award winner was the magnificently presented 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Corsica Drophead Coupé, which secured the top prize in the ‘European Classic Sports’ J-1 class. Jean Bugatti’s iconic Type 57 design was further advanced with the arrival of the Type 57S in 1934, featuring a re-engineered and sportier chassis powered by a re-tuned 3.3-liter inline eight-cylinder engine, resulting in a 40hp increase in output to 175hp.

The model was key to solidifying Bugatti’s prominence as the definitive luxury and performance automobile manufacturer of the period, as the Type 57S was able to reach a top speed of 120mph – the fastest French production car of the time. Proving itself on track, Type 57S derivatives would secure three Grand Prix victories alongside the overall 24 Hours of Le Mans victory in 1937 and 1939.

RM Sotheby's Monterey auction Monterey, August 13/14, 2021

• 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet, Chassis No. 57156, Engine No. 48: Sold for $665,000
• 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport, Chassis No. ZA9BB02E0RCD39015, Engine No. 107: Sold for $2,755,000
• 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4, Serial No. 066, Chassis No. VF9SA25C78M795066: Sold for $1,545,000

Gooding & Co Pebble Beach auctions, August 14/15, 2021

• 1928 Bugatti Baby, "chassis" 358 A, Estimate $100,000 - $125,000, Sold for $125,000
• 1929 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix, Chassis 4938, Engine 192T, Estimate: $3,500,000 - $4,500,000, Sold for $5,615,000
• 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Galibier, Chassis 57224, Estimate $200,000 - $225,000, Sold for $179,200

Molsheim, 13 08 2021

EXTREME, LIGHT, AND UNBELIEVABLY FAST. BUGATTI UNVEILED THE BOLIDE AS A ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIMENTAL VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2020, AND WORK ON A PRODUCTION VERSION HAS NOW BEGUN.

Raw and authentic. The ultimate driving machine, the quintessence of power, lightness, and acceleration. When Bugatti presented its Bolide technological concept in fall 2020, it was initially a drivable experimental vehicle - a one-off. But now, the French luxury marque has announced at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in California that the Bolide1 will be produced as a few-off model.

“The Bolide generated a great deal of enthusiasm and intrigue last year. Following its presentation, a significant number of enthusiasts and collectors asked us to develop the experimental Bolide as a production vehicle. I was absolutely amazed by the reactions and feedback from customers from all over the world,” explains Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “We therefore decided to make the Bolide a few-off in order to give 40 customers the opportunity to experience this incredible vehicle. Our team has now been developing a production model - the ultimate driving machine for the track.” This will make the Bolide the most extreme configuration level of the legendary 8.0-liter W16 engine and a must-have for Bugatti collectors.

During its thought experiment in fall 2020, the French luxury automobile manufacturer presented the answer to the following question: What if Bugatti built a radically light vehicle around the legendary 8.0-liter W16 engine? The upshot was the experimental study of the Bugatti Bolide as a racetrack-oriented hyper sports car with a production-based W16 engine and minimal bodywork designed with maximum downforce in mind.

Presenting this engine in its purest form is the quintessence of the Bolide.

Developing Bolide around the power train
With the highly limited-edition production Bolide, Bugatti engineers and designers have created the most extreme vehicle concept ever to have been conceived around the powerful power train of the W16 engine with four turbochargers, offering the promise of the ultimate Bugatti performance kick. “For me, being able to turn the radical thought experiment of the Bolide into reality as a production vehicle is a dream come true as it is by far the most challenging project of my 17-year Bugatti career,” explains Bugatti Design Director Achim Anscheidt. The design of the Bolide follows the minimalist approach of the Bugatti style philosophy of “form follows performance” and is additionally founded on an uncompromising lightweight construction approach. It pays homage to the brand’s glorious motorsport past of the in the 1920s.

The numerous air ducts and delicate front end are more reminiscent of aerodynamically sophisticated Formula 1 cars than a hyper sports car, and they dominate its look. The Bolide sits very low to the ground, with an air intake scoop on the roof and an ultra-sporty seat position. In combination with the striking rear diffuser, the dominant rear wing results in high downforce and therefore also optimum traction. As with other Bugatti vehicles, the design team opted for a color split, although the proportion of visible carbon parts is greater than in other models.

Bugatti stands for technological innovations. With the W16 engine as a symbol of the brand’s technology, Bugatti boasts one of the most extraordinary engines in automotive history. In the case of the Bolide experimental vehicle, its power output of 1,850 PS is achieved among other things thanks to 110-octane racing fuel, whereas for the production vehicle, Bugatti opted for 98 RON gas which is available worldwide, so that the owners can use their vehicles around the world without any issues. The vehicle’s available power output is 1,600 PS with a torque figure of 1,600 newton meters starting at 2,250 rpm. Bugatti’s engineers tuned the vehicle for higher revs per minute for use on the racetrack, alongside the intake and exhaust system to achieve even faster, more spontaneous, and extreme responsiveness. The cooling system for the turbochargers, engine, transmission, and differential are likewise modified for optimum power development.

Safety standards in line with FIA rules
Bugatti’s designers and engineers are currently honing the aerodynamics and handling, and are developing the Bolide in line with international FIA safety standards. To guarantee maximum safety and sufficient comfort during the pure driving experience, Bugatti has developed an array of new components. The safety features include HANS system compatibility, an automatic fire extinguishing system, pressure refueling with a fuel bladder, central wheel locking, and a six-point safety belt system.

Optimizations in the areas of design, aerodynamics, quality, and safety give the production vehicle a curb weight of just 1,450 kilograms and therefore a weight-to-power ratio of 0.9 kilograms per PS when 98 RON gas is used. “The customers’ safety is always our top priority. We therefore decided to offer exclusive track days for this extreme vehicle in order to guarantee a safe environment at all times and gradually introduce the customers to the Bolide’s breathtaking performance,” says Stephan Winkelmann.

Thanks to maximum weight saving, customers will be able to experience the full power and torque of the engine – and they will love it. “We are proud to have succeeded in keeping the production vehicle so close to its technical demonstrator both visually and technically while also enhancing the design, quality, and vehicle safety,” explains Stephan Winkelmann.

The new hyper sports car will be taken to production maturity over the next three years, with its delivery scheduled for 2024 at a net unit price of four million euros and limited to 40 units.

I really was waiting for this! And... The Bolide not being a car for the street, but circuits only, means that the taxes to acquire the car will be lower, nothing like the "BPM" tax as we know it in the Netherlands!

Next question; will anybody really race it (Le Mans???), or maybe Bugatti can organize specific Bolide races, not just track days?

Molsheim, 11 08 2021

A BUGATTI MODEL WAS PRESENT AT THE FIRST EVER PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE IN MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, IN 1950, AND THE ICONIC FRENCH LUXURY BRAND HOLDS A RECORD NINE ‘BEST OF SHOWS’ AWARDS.

On Sunday 15th August, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance will mark its 70th anniversary. Bugatti will celebrate its involvement from the very beginning with what is seen by many as the world’s premier celebration of the automobile. The event was first held in 1950 when the cars were driven on a parade lap of the Pebble Beach Road Race course. One of the star cars of that initial event was a 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Coupe de Ville entered by John Edgar.

“In the early years, collector cars weren't particularly appreciated or encouraged to attend, with the emphasis placed primarily on new models," explains Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Chairman Sandra Button. "Things began to change in the mid-50s, when the organizers began to present their top award to classic models as opposed to new cars.”

First of nine ‘Best in Show’ accolades for Bugatti
With the cars displayed on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links and the glistening Carmel Bay providing a stunning backdrop, the first outright win for the French luxury marque came in 1956. That year, the Type 37 Grand Prix car of Doctor Milton R. Roth won ‘Best of Show’. Since then, Bugatti models have been present on the 18th fairway at practically every running of the concours. The marque has been awarded the highly coveted ‘Best of Show’ accolade more often than any other manufacturer, with a record nine wins to date.

“The Bugatti brand holds a very special place in the history of Pebble Beach. Our stories are intrinsically linked, and each year Bugatti models grace the fairway, they never fail to captivate and beguile visitors and of course, our judges,” continues Button. “In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that in the Bugatti gathering in 1985 was pivotal in making Pebble Beach the international success it is today.”

The event Button refers to is the breathtaking display of all six Bugatti Type 41 ‘Royales’ at Pebble Beach in 1985 – the only time these iconic cars ever appeared together, before or since. Produced between 1926 and 1933, the Royale was a car the like of which the world had never seen. The greatest luxury automobile – a car for aristocrats and royals was how company founder Ettore Bugatti envisaged the 6.4-metre, 12.8-litre in-line eight-cylinder powered Type 41. Technically and stylistically, the opulently equipped Royale exceeded its brief with consummate ease. But unfortunately, its timing coincided with a significant global economic downturn, and as a result, just six production models were built.

Ambitious undertaking
The highly ambitious idea of assembling all six Bugatti Royales in one place was first proposed by Chris Bock, then a member of the concours field crew and today the chief judge of the event. It was a fiendishly complicated logistical task that even involved the granting of diplomatic immunity to two of the cars by the US Government, a status usually reserved for individuals, occasionally bestowed on objects of art but never an automobile before.

"Four of the Bugatti Royales were in the US already, and the remaining two were in France," recalls Bock. “They had been part of the Schlumpf brothers’ car collection in Mulhouse, which had been taken over by the French Government and placed under the care of the French National Automobile Museum Association. But the museum was worried that if the cars left French soil, the Schlumpf brothers might attempt a legal move to seize the cars back.”

Even with diplomatic immunity granted, there were still significant hurdles to overcome. The typical cargo flight from France refueled in Canada, which the US grant of diplomatic immunity would not have covered, so special flights had to be arranged with Air France from Paris direct to Los Angeles. The French museum stipulated that each car be transported on a separate aircraft and then on a different truck to minimize risk. The transport cost around €85,000 in 1985, which was paid for by car collectors, judges, officials, and friends of the concours, such was the enthusiasm to see the legendary Bugatti models at Pebble Beach.

Two other Royales came from the William F. Harrah collection in Reno and a fifth from the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn in Michigan. “That car has been donated to the museum by a former GM executive, Charles Chayne," explains Bock. "Chayne came across the car in a junkyard in Long Island, where it had ended up after a cold New York winter cracked the engine block, and bought it for a few hundred dollars.”

“The concours is a complicated show to put on because it's essentially on a golf course sitting in a residential neighborhood," continues Bock. “We had put a lot of care into arranging storage for the Royales in the garages of private homes adjacent to the lodge. Then a guy arrived with the sixth Royale, which belonged to Briggs Cunningham. He'd towed it on an open trailer with a Ford F250 pick-up truck. He said: 'Oh, it'll be fine, we'll just throw a tarp over it,' while everyone else was running around hyperventilating."

Once-in-a-lifetime event
Enthusiasts travelled from all over the globe to see the six Royales at Pebble Beach. The lawn where the cars were displayed, which is now the event’s concept car lawn, was constantly mobbed with spectators, Bock recalls. “There was just a throng of people around those cars. It was mobbed, and it stayed that way all day long. It was just a huge turning point for the event. It put Pebble Beach on the map with the international automotive press and car collectors all around the globe, plus it spawned the Pebble Beach Automotive Week."

Bugatti models provided many more spell-binding moments at Pebble Beach over the years, including Ralph Lauren winning ‘Best of Show’ with his Type 57SC Atlantic in 1990. In 2003 Ralph Lauren’s car was reunited with the similar Type 57SC from the Mullin Collection. In 2019, all four Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix cars were brought together for the first time since 1934.

A spectacle to behold
The 70th running of the Concours will feature a special exhibition of Best of Show Winners, including several Bugattis, many of which are in contention to collect awards. Summoning up the luxury French marque's appeal, Chris Bock says: "Bugatti automobiles are such a perfect blend of engineering, style and rarity. Every mechanical component is created with a designer's eye as well as an engineer's eye. They really are works of art.”

Bugatti, as a modern company, has also enjoyed a highly successful relationship with the Pebble Beach Concours. President of Bugatti Automobiles Stephan Winkelmann and Bugatti Design Director Achim Anscheidt have served on the judging panel on several occasions. The company has also chosen the exclusive venue to present contemporary models to customers, selected guests, and the world’s press.

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport celebrated its world premiere at Pebble Beach on the eve of the Concours d’Elegance in 2008. The car was sold at the Pebble Beach Auction presented by Gooding & Company. It achieved a price of $2.9 million (before buyer's premium), bringing in $900,000 over the car's retail price, all of which Bugatti donated to the Pebble Beach Company Foundation charity, which has raised around €30 million for charities over the years. More recently, in 2019, Bugatti showcased the Centodieci special edition at Monterey Car Week, an extraordinarily created homage to the legendary Bugatti EB110.

“Enthusiasts regard the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance as the greatest celebration of the automobile in the world, and rightly so,” states President of Bugatti Automobiles Stephan Winkelmann. “We at Bugatti are immensely proud that our association with the concours reaches back to the very first event in 1950 and tremendously honoured to have been awarded the greatest number of 'Best in Show’ accolades over the past 70 years. The event always provides the perfect setting for us to engage with our customers and make new friends each year. We look forward to continuing our special relationship with Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance into the future.”

List of Bugatti Pebble Beach Concours elegance ‘Best of Show’ Awards:

YEAR	CAR	ENTRANT
1956	1930 Bugatti Type 37 Grand Prix	Dr. Milton R. Roth
1959	1939 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff Atalante Coupe	J.B. Nethercutt
1964	1932 Bugatti Type 50 Coupe Profile	William Harrah
1966	1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Binder Coupe de Ville	William Harrah
1976	1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe	William Harrah
1985	1939 Bugatti Type 57 Saoutchik Cabriolet	Jack Becronis
1990	1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic	Ralph Lauren
1998	1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Corsica Roadster	John Mozart
2003	1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic	Peter D. Williamson

We found a secret in the files of the German Trademark Office.

There is no such thing as an "ordinary" Bugatti, but some of the company's creations are more special than others...
Take the example of La Voiture Noire; it was built in one piece for $ 18 million as a tribute to the black Type 57 SC Atlantic by Jean Bugatti (son of Ettore Bugatti). Naming a unique piece after Jean's car is a great tribute, but an upcoming model could do him an even greater honor.

Bugatti recently registered the name "Jean Bugatti" with the DPMA in Germany on July 29, 2021. It may seem odd that an automobile manufacturer registers the name of its founder's son, but it is not if it will be attached to a future model of the marque.

Source: GS, France

What will be the future at Bugatti, will be the hybrid and electric automobiles, according to Rimac, and not even of the extraordinary kind. Bugatti will end up producing cars which will be more approachable, less powerful and at a higher production volume, he declared. This is an extraordinary decision for a brand which has made a name as an extreme elite, selling the fastest, the most expensive, and the most beautiful in the world. "For us, it is a matter of surviving as a company on the long term", declared Rimac during the visioconference. "We want to make the company financially independent, profitable and with a return on investment. We want to do so by putting the emphasis on efficiency." Rimac called the evolution natural, saying he would not "artificially separate" Bugatti and Rimac as individual brands within the new company if they merged beyond recognition over the next several years. "They might need to converge," he said.

Over the past week we heard nothing about poor old Stephan Winkelmann, who of course already had moved to Lamborghini, so VW could keep him within the Volkswagen group. Mr. Winkelmann's departure from Bugatti has now been officially declared.

Thus, we will see smaller Bugatti's, less expensive, and less exclusive. The current Chiron orders will be fulfilled, which will probably be the end of the large VR16 engine with 1600HP. I really doubt if Bugatti, out of the VW group, will be able to develop an all new smaller engine of it's own. A downsized 8-liter 16-cylinder to a 4-liter 8-cylinder may be the most logical choice. That will at least be far better than mating the hybrid system with an engine bought somewhere else.... Editor

A question: Can an electric car reach 300 MPH before the battery's are dead?

Road and Track had the following plea in an article titled "Mate Rimac Has to Figure Out the Future of Bugatti":
"So a note to Mate Rimac: You now control a company that has actually produced vehicles and delivered them to actual customers. It won’t be enough to merely do development or build speculative prototypes. You control something that carries forward a glorious heritage and outrageous ambition. Please don’t screw it up."

As expected, Volkswagen will not continue it's ownership of Bugatti SAS. It will be owned jointly by Rimac and Porsche, with Rimac owning the larger share, though Porsche actually owns about 25% of Rimac, thus in the end has the largest share of Bugatti. Bugatti will be part of the new joint venture Bugatti Rimac.

Thus; what will change? As we know, Bugattis were only assembled in the Atelier in Molsheim, none of the parts were actually made there, most of those were made in VW-factories in Germany, or other suppliers, mostly in Germany also. Development was done in the VW headquarters in Wolfsburg, hence the German WOB-license plates of many of the prototype Bugattis.

Of course; most production contracts will continue, probably the first to be moved is the development center. if this will go to Porsche, to Rimac in Croatia or somewhere else (Molsheim? They do not have the engineers in Molsheim I guess) remains to be seen.

Engineering in Croatia focusses on electrically driven Vehicles, Mate Rimac states that even in this decennium there will be an all electric Bugatti. However, Bugatti will continue to produce automobiles powered by an internal combustion engine, which will be some sort of Hybrid though.

That Rimac, though still a very little-known company, is seriously investing can be seen in the Rimac campus which is currently under construction at a price tag of 200 million euro. This will house both Rimac Technology and Bugatti Rimac — Croatia, and may just become a new automotive epicenter.

There are also rumours that Bugatti will expand it's range of automobiles from just hypercars. Thus: let's see what happens, all predictions are difficult, especially when they concern the future...

Bonhams' Goodwood Festival of Speed auction, July 9, 2021

• 1930 Bugatti Type 49 open tourer, Chassis no. BC149, Estimate: £200,000 - 250,000 (€230,000 - 290,000): Not sold
• 1928 Bugatti Type 40 Torpedo sports, Chassis no. 40557 Engine no. 495, Estimate: £200,000 - 250,000 (€230,000 - 290,000): Not sold
• Original Bugatti Type 49 gearbox, Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (€4,700 - 7,000): Sold for £6,900 (€8,045) inc. premium
• 1977 Bugatti Type 35 Child's car by Tula engineering Chassis Number 25: Sold for £ 10,200 (€ 11,893) inc. premium

PORSCHE AND RIMAC AUTOMOBILI HAVE AGREED TO SET UP THE JOINT VENTURE BUGATTI RIMAC.

Today, Porsche and Rimac Automobili have finalized the plans to establish a new joint venture including Bugatti, named Bugatti Rimac. The two companies‘ CEOs Oliver Blume and Mate Rimac signed the relevant contracts, establishing the share split in Bugatti Rimac with 55 percent being held by Rimac Automobili and 45 percent by Porsche (which holds 24% in Rimac). The formation of the joint company is due to take place in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to the approval of antitrust authorities in several countries. Bugatti will be brought into the joint company by current owner Volkswagen and the shares will then be transferred to Porsche. The new company Bugatti Rimac combines the genes of both strong brands. Together they form an attractive automotive company, for customers as well as for employees.

Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. will remain at its historic headquarters in Molsheim, France, where it was founded in 1909 Not the same company as it is now, though.. The real descendant of Bugatti is making aircraft undercarriages a km or so down the road, ED.. Bugatti has always stood at the pinnacle of the automotive industry, exceeding the dreams of its customers and enthusiasts around the globe. With its long tradition and experience, Bugatti is a strong contributor to Bugatti Rimac, bringing in all of its know-how in manufacture and craftsmanship, carbon fiber and other lightweight materials, small series production, as well as a unique and experienced network of worldwide dealership partners.

Porsche and Rimac Automobili are the perfect partners to accompany Bugatti into the future. Porsche entered into a fruitful partnership with Rimac Automobili as early as 2018, subsequently increasing its shares in the young, agile and fast-paced Croatian automotive and technology company. Today, Porsche holds a 24 percent share in Rimac Automobili. Porsche itself is known as a leading sports car manufacturer from Stuttgart, Germany, having been the most profitable company within the Volkswagen Group. Rimac Automobili on the other hand has established itself as an industry pioneer in electric technologies, both as a technology supplier as well as an electric hypercar manufacturer with recent the launch of the new Rimac Nevera.

Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG: “We are combining Bugatti's strong expertise in the hyper sports car business with Rimac's tremendous innovative strength in the highly promising field of electric mobility. Bugatti is contributing a tradition-rich brand, iconic products, unique quality standards and craftsmanship, a loyal customer base and a global dealer network to the joint venture. In addition to technology, Rimac is contributing new development and organizational approaches.”

Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Rimac Automobili: “This is a truly exciting moment in the short, yet rapidly expanding history of Rimac Automobili and this new venture takes things to a completely new level. I have always loved cars and can see at Bugatti where passion for cars can take you to. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am by the potential of these two brands combining knowledge, technologies and values to create some truly special projects in the future.”

Molsheim 23 06 2021

After extensive reviews of the most elite automobiles in the world, the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport was selected as Robb Report's “Best Hypercar for 2021.”

Designed for agility, the Pur Sport has been widely celebrated for its ability to apply the brute power of the Chiron’s 16-cyclinder, 1500 horsepower engine to unlock a new dimension of dynamic cornering and tangible performance throughout its entire range of speed.

We're only halfway 2021... Maybe one of the competitors will launch an even better hypercar before the end of the year?... Not probable.

RM Sotheby's Milan auction, June 15, 2021

• 1931 Bugatti Type 46 Coupé 'Superprofilée', Chassis No. 46491, Engine No. 345
  Estimate: €500,000 - €700,000, Sold for €545,000

Bonhams' Bonmont Sale - Collector's Motor Car, June 20, 2021

• 1933 Type 49 Roadster, Chassis no. 49562, Engine no. 49116-L19
  Estimate: € 230,000 - 320,000: Withdrawn
• 1939 Type 57C 'Aravis' cabriolet, Chassis no. 57815 Engine no. 85C
  Estimate: € 640,000 - 910,000: Sold for €734,891 inc. premium

Osenat Automobiles de Collection auction, June 21, 2021

• 1926 Bugatti Type 35 A, Chassis no. 4627R
  Estimate: €300,000 - 400,000: Sold for €252,000 inc. premium
• 1926 Bugatti Type 38, Chassis no. 38325
  Estimate: €300,000 - 400,000: Sold for €246,000 inc. premium

• 1933 Bugatti Type 46S Two-door coupé By James Young, Chassis n° 46587, Engine n° 16S, Estimate £ 350,000 - 500,000 (€ 410,000 - 590,000)

• 1994 Bugatti EB 110 GT France, Chassis n° ZA9AB01S0RCD39095

More info

• 1935 Bugatti T57 VanVooren cabriolet, Chassis NO. 57287, Engine NO. 213, Estimate € 700,000 - 800,000
  More info

  

• 1936 Bugatti T57C, Chassis no. 57335 Engine no. 340, Estimate € 1,600,000 - 2,000,000
  Ettore's personal car.
  More info

In 2006 Chassis 57287 was completely destroyed by fire, see: bugattipage.com/2006news.htm, newsitem of October 31, 2006. Apparently this car was completely put back together again. I wonder how many new parts are in it....