Automotive Recyclers Association - Archive

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• Bugatti.com
• Bugatti Car Blog

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Bugatti Cars

With the current demise of the auto industry in America, it is difficult to fathom car manufacturers continuing to thrive successfully. But if they possess the highest aesthetic standards including power, elegance, and raw sex appeal, then customers will order regardless of the economy. Bugatti is one of those brands. From its quality beginnings in 1909 to its present day entity as part of Volkswagen AG (also the owners of brands like Lamborghini and Audi), Bugatti has withstood the test of time. Like so many other car brands of the era, Bugatti was known for its superb racing skills.

While it is true that the Bugatti of today is not the original company nor even owned by any family members, as the sole successor died in an accident ruining any chance of the company being family-run, it remains that the legend and tradition of Ettore Bugatti lives on in current designs. Although Bugatti had built and raced his cars for some years, the official founding date of Bugatti, the company, is 1909. Cars emblazoned with his name stood for superior creative design, elegance and luxury, as well as a speeding prowess matched by very few.

Interestingly, one of the ways in which Bugatti promoted his vehicles and created brand recognition was to provide rich industrialists and aristocrats with a car that served well both on the race track and on ordinary streets. Since many of these private drivers went on to win leading races, there was no need for an official Bugatti race team. Probably the most popular and well-known vehicle was the Bugatti Atlantic, a touring car held together by rivets instead of welding.

Sadly, several factors negatively impacted upon the company's success. First, the war which caused many production facilities to divert resources to the effort. Second, the fact that after the war, German invaders forced the sale of the manufacturing plant. Third, the untimely death of Bugatti's son Jean who was born to succeed his father and thus, the company lost its leadership.



Important Dates in the Bugatti Timeline:

• 1910 Type 13 is first series car and helps to shape the success of the company for some time.
• 1921 First four cars over the finish line at Brescia were Type 13 Bugattis
• Between the years of 1924 to 1931, the company holds its enviable position as the manufacturer to win the most races, due largely to the creation of the Type 35.
• 1934 Type 57 SC Atlantic is created. Although now described as “as one of the most exciting cars of all time”, only four were built.
• 1936 Bugatti hands the reins of the company over to son Jean
• Jean transitions the company from being known only for lightweight racing cars, but also, for the incredible designs. In a joint effort with his father, he designs the legendary Royale and his father constructs it.. As a tribute to Ettore's artist brother Rembrandt, the car displays a sculpture of the famous dancing elephant as a hood ornament. Unfortunately, the economic woes of 1929 sabotaged the success of the car meant for kings. Six were built but only three were sold.
• 1939 Jean dies in an accident while on a test drive and Bugatti re-assumes control.
• Ettore Bugatti dies in 1947 and attempts to revive the company fail. Others just do not have the “precision” workmanship nor creative talent for the cars like Ettore and Jean.
• 1998 Volkswagen AG purchases the trademarks and rights to the Bugatti brand and a new company called Bugatti Automobile S.A.S. is formed in 1999 and begins production in Molsheim, Alsace.
• 2009 Presently, about eighty cars per year are built. Many of them are picked up personally in Molsheim by their new owners.

Model Names and Years Developed:

• 1900Type 2
• 1903 Type 5
• 1909 Type 10
• 1909 Bugatti T13
• 1910 Type 13, 15, 17
• 1919 Type 13, 22, 23
• 1912 Type 16 Bébé
• 1908 Type 18
• 1920 Type 28
• 1922 Type 29
• 1922 Type 30
• 1923 Type 32
• 1924 Type 35
• 1926 Type 36
• 1925 Type 37
• 1925 Type 39
• 1926 Type 38
• 1926 Type 40
• 1926 Type 41 Royale
• 1927 Type 43
• 1927 Type 44
• 1929 Type 46
• 1930 Type 49
• 1931 Type 50
• 1931 Type 51
• 1931 Type 53
• 1931 Bébé
• 1932 Type 54
• 1931 Type 55
• 1933 Type 59
• 1935 Type 56 Electric Vehicle
• 1934 Type 57, 57S
• 1934 Bugatti Atlantic
• 1939 Type 64
• 1945 Type 68
• 1945 Type 73 1945–47
• 1951 Type 101
• 1955 Type 251
• 1991 EB 110
• 1998 Bugatti EB 118
• 1999 Bugatti EB 218
• 2002 Veyron 16.4
• 2005 Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron
• 2007 Special Edition Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Pur Sang
• 2008 EB 16.4 Veyron Sang Noir
• 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport
• 2009 Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès
• 2009 100th Anniversary Veyron Bleu Centenaire