The Concours d'Élégance, presented by A. Lange & Söhne, is delighted to welcome an exceptional collection of the rarest and most sought-after Bugattis to Hampton Court Palace, West London, UK, from 1-3 September 2023..
These cars from the Bugatti brand, considered "the thoroughbred of automobiles," will grace the 11th annual Concours d'Elegance in tribute to the legacy of the master of style and innovation, Ettore Bugatti. He founded his eponymous company in 1909, but his genius goes back even further, to the twin-engine racing tricycle he created as a teenage apprentice at the Italian firm Prinetti & Stucchi.
The golden age of Automobiles Ettore Bugatti ended in 1952, but the name was resurrected as Bugatti Automobili SpA in 1987 by Italian businessman Romano Artioli, leading to the introduction of the stunning EB110 GT hypercar. The story continued with the acquisition of the brand by the Volkswagen Group in 1998 – and every chapter of the marque will be represented at the Concours d'Élégance.
Here are some of the Bugattis that will grace the royal lawns at Hampton Court Palace.
Prinetti & Stucchi tricycle from 1897
This unlikely-looking steed is actually a historically significant vehicle, as it was this vintage racing machine that set the teenage Ettore Bugatti on the path to automotive icon status. Prinetti & Stucchi, the apprentice's employer at the time, manufactured DeDion tricycles under license, and at the request of the Automobile Club of Italy, the young Ettore was tasked with developing a twin-engine racing version.
And so he did, with astonishing success. Demonstrating innovation and mechanical skill beyond his youth, his Bugatti Type 1 won its first race at the 1899 Reggio Emilia, against very stiff competition. In doing so, he set a world average speed record of 64 km/h over 90 km – a remarkable feat at the time, setting the tone for the many incredible cars and motorsport victories that would follow for Ettore.
Bugatti Type 59 from 1934
The 59 Type 1934—part of the Pearl Collection of Switzerland—was developed in response to growing competition from Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo in motorsport. It was, and still is, considered a technical marvel and a masterpiece of industrial art, with its striking piano wire wheels, lowered bodywork—and thus a lower center of gravity—longer wheelbase, and supercharged straight-eight engine. As Bugatti's last GP car, the T59 is generally considered the most elegant of the pre-war competition cars. Only six examples were built, and this one took third place at the Monaco Grand Prix and overall victory in Belgium.
Subsequently, its chassis and bodywork were extensively modified, the supercharger was removed, and a dry-sump gearbox was installed to prepare it for sports car racing. After a string of successes, it became the fastest sports car in France and even entered the stables of King Leopold III of Belgium. Presented in highly original condition, this fascinating, historic, and unique machine embodies the ineffable magic of the Bugatti brand.
Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio from 1935
The Bugatti Type 57 Grand Touring was produced from 1934 to 1940 and until the Second World War. It was a completely new design by Jean Bugatti, Ettore's son, who was now working for the company. It shared its 3,3-liter engine with the Type 59 GP cars, but as was typical of the marque, the T57 underwent various technical developments throughout its life and was available in numerous bodies with and without roofs—many of which were bespoke.
The T57 was produced in 710 units, in the original and lowered versions (Surbaissé), T57S and SC (Compressor). It is the Stelvio convertible – named after a pass in the Eastern Alps – that will be on display at Hampton Court Palace.
57 Bugatti Type 1936S Atalante
One of 17 Bugatti Type 57S models built with an Atalante two-seater coupé body, chassis no. 57502 was delivered new to Earl Howe – co-founder of the British Racing Drivers' Club – via British Bugatti agent Sorel of London. The car subsequently changed hands several times before being purchased by a Dr. Harold Carr of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1955. In 1960, he placed the 57S in storage, which remained untouched until his death in 2007.
It was then rediscovered and fully restored, before joining the Pearl Collection, where it has remained ever since.
110 Bugatti EB1994 GT
Romano Artioli had a dream – and with the help of former Lamborghini Miura engineers, as well as automotive greats such as Paolo Stanzani and Nicola Materazzi, the ambitious Italian entrepreneur made it a reality. For several years in the 1990s, his brand-new EB110 GT hypercar project sat at the top of the supercar tree, thanks to its remarkable 12 hp 3,5-liter quad-turbo V553 and all-wheel drive system. The even more powerful, track-focused Super Sport variant, at the time, developed a phenomenal 602 hp.
Artioli's revival of the Bugatti name didn't last long, however. Financial difficulties finally forced the company's closure in 1995, after 139 EB110s had left the Campogalliano factory in Modena – including one purchased by Michael Schumacher. The example on display at the Concours d'Elégance, chassis 39065, is one of only 84 GT variants built for road use. Upon leaving the factory, it was finished in Grigio Chiaro with a two-tone gray leather interior, and fitted with the Super Sport's lightweight wheels and a carbon fiber front bumper.
2022 Bugatti Centodieci
To mark Bugatti's 110th anniversary in 2019, the venerable French marque, now owned by the Volkswagen Group, created a limited-edition machine to celebrate this milestone in its history of exceptional performance and design. The Centodieci went into production in 2022. The Pearl Collection model—one of ten built—represents the pinnacle of the modern Bugatti and draws inspiration from its EB110 ancestor.
Its 16-liter W8,0 engine, developing 1577 hp, allows it to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 2,4 seconds and reach a (limited) top speed of 236 mph; virtually unrivaled performance. Many cars in Bugatti's history have represented the limits of what was technologically possible at the time they were built. It is therefore fitting that the brand's latest model presented at the Concours d'Élégance does the same.
These exceptional Bugattis will be showcased alongside other exciting machines at the September Concours d'Élégance, featuring a range of rare and spectacular vehicles and special features, including additional exhibits from the Pearl Collection of Switzerland, Thirty Under 30, the all-female Levitt Concours, and the Junior Concours. In addition to the main exhibits, the event will feature around 1000 additional vehicles in a series of glamorous presentations.
James Brooks-Ward, Managing Director of the Concours d’Élégance, said: “Bugatti was – and remains – the thoroughbred of automobiles, a thoroughbred marque like no other. The Concours d’Élégance is absolutely delighted to host such a comprehensive display of exceptional cars from across the marque’s history. From Ettore Bugatti’s very first creation – the 1897 Tricycle Prinetti & Stucchi, or Bugatti Type 1 – to the Centodieci, designed by the current Bugatti company in 2019 to celebrate the marque’s 110th anniversary, the cars on display represent the pinnacle of engineering brilliance, breathtaking design, and technical innovation.”
In the last few weeks leading up to the event, other interesting participants and categories will be announced on www.concoursofelegance.co.uk
Far from car shows, the 2023 Concours d'Elegance will once again be an occasion of pure luxury, with champagne provided by Charles Heidsieck, picnics offered by Fortnum & Mason, and a collection of art, jewelry, and fashion exhibits. Presenting partner A. Lange & Söhne will, as always, showcase some of its most intricate timepieces.
André Tirlet
