History of Bugatti PT #2 | The Bad Blonde Car History

Join me for PT #2 of Bugatti's fascinating history. Subscribe to The Bad Blonde Car History for more automotive history content! #Bugatti #Bolide #thebadblonde It was in 1987 that Italian entrepreneur Roman Artioli purchased the rights to Bugatti. Quickly he went to work creating a beautiful manufacturing plant in Italy and design plans for the new Bugatti revival model, the Bugatti EB110. Who were the designers behind the initial concept before they would have conflicts with Artioli and skirt out the back door? Paolo Stanzani and Marcello Gandini, two famous designers of the Lamborghini Miura and the Countach. Nicola Materazzi would pick up the button and finish the EB 110. The EB 110 was ground breaking in style and one of breathtaking supercars that came out of the nineties along with the Jaguar XJ220, Lamborghini Diablo, Ferrari F50, and the McLaren F1. Powering the Bugatti EB110 was a 3.5litre, 5-valve per cylinder making it a 60-valve, quad turbocharged 60 degree v12 powering all four wheels through a six speed manual transmission. Materazzi served as chief designer for the Ferrari F40 and the Ferrari 288GTO. In 1991 Bugatti would unveil the EB 110 in France on the celebration of 110 years after Ettore’s day of birth. Just six months later they would introduce the EB 110 Super Sport, a more powerful and lighter version by 330lbs. The Super Sport could reach 221mph. The EB 110 Super Sport would garner a great deal of publicity when famous F1 drive, Michael Schumacher, purchased a yellow one…. BUT that would bite them in the rear when he crashed it and then blamed then on “inadequate brakes”.. It was repaired and he kept it till 2003. In 1993 Artioli would purchase Lotus Cars from General Motors and they would present to the public the EB112 prototype saloon… which I don’t find to be quite attractive. Roman Artioli’s Bugatti reign would hit hard times 1995 resulting in bankruptcy, a combination of the 1990s recession and strain caused by the purchase of Lotus Cars. Fast forward to 1998, Volkswagen Group acquires the Bugatti brand and jumps right in to creating a concept car, the EB 118. They commission gamed designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro, the man mostly credited for popularizing the wedge shape. Homeboy did the Iso Grifo, the DMC DeLorean, and the Lotus Esprit. The would introduce the EB118 powered by a w-18 engine, the EB 218 and 18/3 Chiron. In 2005, Bugatti went to work assembling its first regular production car, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 powered by a 8 liter quad turbocharged w16 engine at it’s original Bugatti factory location in Molsheim, France! In 2010, the Veyron Super Sport took the title of fastest production vehicle of all time with a speed of 267mph on the Ehra-Lession track in Germany BUT that was in dispute for a bit of time because when sold the Veyron had an electronic limiter of 258mph. That sorted through that somehow, and Veyron took the title and maintained it for seven years till taken by the Koenigsegg Agera RS. In 2016 we would see Bugatti Chiron would make headlines at the Geneva Motor Show. Based on the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo and named after the great Monegasque racer Louis Chiron. Chiron was one of the most successful Bugatti drivers of his time. He was not born into privilege. Chiron made his way to the top of the racing scene through skill and charm. He was a dance partner for the wealthy ladies lounging about at the Hotel de Paris. The Veyron quad-turbocharged W16 engine with multiple updates was carried over to the Chiron. Just like the Veyron, the Chiron features a carbon fibre body structure, independent suspension, and all wheel drive system. At a base price of 2.4 million, the first 200 of the Chiron were sold before the first one was even delivered! Two years later Bugatti would reveal a 40lb lighter track focused and stiffer supension, Chiron Sport. There would be a handful of Chiron variants: 2019- Chiron Super Sport 300+ - with only 30 examples created powered by a 1,600 PS (1,175 kW; 1,580 hp) quad-turbocharged W16 engine 2019 - Bugatti La Voiture Noire –nod to the design of the type 57 SC Atlantic 2022- Chiron Pur Sport - a handling-focused model which will be limited to 60 units. Revealed at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, the Bugatti Divo named after Albert Divo a Bugatti Racer of the 1920s who took victory twice at the Targa Florio. Only 40 units of the track focused Divo were made, powered by 8.0 L (488 cu in) quad-turbocharged W16.. Only available via dealer special invite and sold out on the first day. . Bugatti announced they would produce it in December of 2020. Reported to be their last car powered by their iconic 8liter w16 engines and only 40 units produced. Le Bolide comes from the French term Le Bolide meaning the race car.

History of Bugatti - Part #1

History of Bugatti PT#1 | The Bad Blonde Car History Naturally we start our tale with the man behind the brand, Ettore Bugatti. An engineering talent that would go on to build one the most revered luxury car brand of it’s day. Though this story would be plagued with setbacks and tragedy. Early on it was clear Ettore’s talent steered more toward engineering and mechanics. At an early age he was able to comprehend complex designs. His father took note one day after Ettore repaired a broken tricycle, and helped foster that with apprenticeship at Prinetti & Stucchi a sewing machine and bicycle manufacturer when Ettore was just 17. Soon after Ettore would create his own motorized tricycle to enter into a competition from Paris to Boreaux. This Motor Tricycle was powered by two engines of the De Dion Company. The De Dion company is a prestigious name you hear through out automotive history. They were a prolific part supplier to many of the burgeoning early automotive manufactures around the turn of the century and after. His apprenticeship would open up to Ettore the world of engineering, automobiles, and speed. At the young age of 19, Ettore left his apprenticeship and set out to create his own automobile. Soon his skills would catch the attention of the De Deitrich company, he was soon hired on to design vehicles for them. He was only 19 when he received his first professional contract with De Deitrich. In 1903 for the Paris to Madrid race, Ettore would build a car so ahead of it’s time that it was rejected from the race. With this car, he placed the driver and the engine lower in the chassis, better for aerodynamics and center of gravity, a practice that was revolutionary at the time. He received harsh criticism and speculation from this. As popular, for the times was being seated higher in the automobile. understanding. Ettore Bugatti created the Bugatti Type 10 in 1909. Powered by a 1.2 liter 4 cylinder engine weighing in at 365kg which is essentially 804lbs and could reach 80km/per hour. An impressive feat for the time. With the success and confidence of the type 10, Ettore would establish Automobiles Ettore Bugatti in Molsheim, France. That location would go on to prove quite tragic for him after the war. Ettore was one of the first for many principles that are still used in today’s manufacturing, along with his beliefs on lightness, he also heavily believed in using racing success to drive sales. “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday” With many wins under the Bugatti belt, he quickly became known as one of the best car designers in the country. All within the same year, he completed the groundbreaking type 10, founded his automobile company, and celebrated the birth of his only son Jean. Jean Bugatti would go on to be an incredibly talented automobile designer taken too soon by tragedy. Ettore was already ready for progress and would soon release the Bugatti Type 13. The Type 13 would take second place in the 1911 grand prix, garnering much attention and solidifying the Bugatti name in racing and automobiles. Unfortunately soon the entire world would come to a stop when WWI broke out, just like many other manufacturers Bugatti stopped production and redirected to war efforts. During this time, Ettore would work with the Duesenberg Brothers on the dramatic U-16 engine. The U-16 was essentially two straight line engines sharing a crank case. The engine did not catch on particularly well BUT it did lead to the creation of overhead camshaft and straight 8 engine designs. After the war ended, Bugatti went back to his factory, improved his type 13 engine and went on to win the 1920 lemans, 1921 Brescia, and continued to garner so many victories that the type 13 1924 Bugatti introduced the type 35, which would go on to win 1000 races and become Bugatti’s most successful race car. It was in 1926 Bugatti would introduce it’s first luxury vehicle, the type 41 Bugatti Royale. The Royal was the longest car of it’s time, and likely the most luxurious. Before their focus had mainly been on race vehicles. The costumers of the Royale were selected, only the most notable were chosen, kings, counts, and that is how it became known at the Royale. Post great depression, Bugatti would be back on track. Jean Bugatti was running the factory and making his own successful impression on the company. He was skilled just as his father and had a vision for Bugatti. Under him, he lead the company into the luxury car market and produced the famous Bugatti Atlantic, Royale, and the type 57G In 1937 and 1939, they would win 2 lemans in the Bugatti type 57G aka Tank. I was fortunate to see a type 57g at the Simeone Automotive Foundation Museum. In June of 1939, tragedy struck.. Jean Bugatti organized a road test with the Le Mans winning Type 57G. Jean was a hands on engineer and got behind the wheel, somehow a cyclist got on this closed track and to miss him Jean swerved, striking a tree and dying on impact.