Jacob's Bugatti Pages: Bugatti Royale, chassis 41 100

BUGATTI TYPE

Chassis number 41 100

This first Royale prototype, built in 1927, had a slightly longer chassis and larger engine than its successors. It went through a lot, and its last and current body is its fifth - on a chassis of "normal" Royale length.

1926, Packard Phaeton:

The first Royale wearing its first body.
Compare the size with the man standing to the right!
Photo: Unknown, Source (24)

The first body on the 41 100 chassis was a phaeton - open tourer - body removed from a Packard. Why a body wasn't built in the Bugatti shops I do not know.

1928, "Fiacre" Coupé, by Bugatti:

The second body on 41100 is clearly an Ettore design.
Photo: Unknown, Source (23)

The second was a two door, three seat, coupé designed by Ettore Bugatti, and fitted in 1928. It was a very conservative, horse-carriage inspired, design, like many by Ettore at that time.

1928, 4-door Berline:

The third body was very much a limousine version of the second body.
Photo: Unknown, Source (23)

A third body replaced the previous one in just a few months time. It was a four door sedan, better proportioned to the long chassis, but still in the same retrograde style as the previous. This is the one shown to the right.

1929, Coach, by Weymann:

The last body on the first version of 41100 was a quite handsome Weymann Coupé.
Photo: Unknown, Source (23)

These oldfasioned bodies where no good for the Royale's image, so a new body, a 4-window coupé of a more up-to-date design, signed and built by Weymann of Paris, was fitted to the chassis in 1929.

All these bodies seem to have had the same fenders and bonnet.

The 41 100 was demolished by Ettore, accompanied by his wife, in a road accident in 1931. Supposedly he fell asleep at the wheel traveling from Paris to Molsheim, and the car was badly damaged.

If you ever get to drive a Royale, don't do this!
Photo: Unknown, Source (23)

1931, Coupé de Ville "Napoleon", by Jean Bugatti:

1931, "Coupé Napoleon", by Jean Bugatti, at the
six Royales gathering at Pebble Beach in 1985
Photo: David Sisson, Reference

After the accident it was rebuilt with a new body designed by Ettore's son Jean, then 21 or 22 years old. The design bears witness of beeing inspired by the pioneering design works at Duesenberg, as seen in the beautiful fender lines and the use of contrasting-colour sweep panel decor.
It is an extremely beautiful car, just touching to over-do it, but managing not to.

It is not sure whether a new chassis and engine were used for the "new" Royale, but it kept the same chassis number, 41 100. This time the chassis is the "short" production version.
This new 41 100 might already have been under construction at the time of the accident, and merely been given the same chassis number as the damaged car.

The car remained the personal carriage of Ettore Bugatti until his death in 1947.

The accuracy of the above information is not guaranteed. However, the information is compiled with the sincerest intentions of accuracy. Corrections, comments and additions are gladly received!
This is copyrighted material! You may NOT use the text without expressed permission from the author. Photographs are copyright of the respective photographer and used with permission.

Editor: Jacob Munkhammar. Design: MUNKHAMMAR. Page updated: 18/7-97.