There are Supercars – Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens – then there are ‘Hypercars’, an upper echelon of sleek speed machines that only the wealthiest of drivers can even think about parking in their driveway. And the name at the top of this list is undoubtedly, Bugatti. Renowned for producing the most luxurious, high-performance vehicles, Bugatti has Italy, France and Germany in its heritage, and a long and fascinating history in the world of automobile manufacturing.
A Brief History of Bugatti
Founded in 1908, Bugatti was the baby project of Ettore Bugatti, an Italian-French designer with engineering experience. Seen as something of a visionary, Bugatti would design racing cars that went on to win Grand Prix events but to start with, he produced cars for the purpose of standard road driving, albeit with high-end designs and relatively steep price-tags. Production shifted to the manufacture of aircraft engines during the second World War – for the American and French forces – but postwar, the company went into decline after Ettore’s death in 1947. Several attempts were made to revive the business and rebuild the brand, with the current astronomical success following the acquisition of the company by the Volkswagen Group in 1998. The 21st Century has seen Bugatti go from strength to strength, several models have won awards and broken speed records.
Celebrity Owners
Bugatti Veyron and Chiron models became the most sought-after cars in the world. Famous owners include Hollywood star Tom Cruise, designer Ralph Lauren, football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and Formula One champion Michael Schumacher. Bugatti became headline news when music megastar Beyonce bought her husband Jay Z a $2million Veyron for his 41st birthday.
But prices for limited editions and some vintage models are much higher than that. Here are five of the rarest Bugattis in the world.
Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic
From the get-go, Bugatti made its name producing cars that were both beautiful and very fast. This model from 1936 is the prime example – the Atlantic had a sporty chassis and straight-eight engine, a distinctive aluminium body design with a dorsal seam. But it’s a combination of that stunning design, the cutting-edge technology for that era and the sheer rarity of the model that makes the Atlantic so sought-after for the car collector with extraordinary resources. When this went up for auction in 2010, the eventual buyer is believed to have paid between 35 to 40 million dollars for ownership of this rarity; as with the specific price, the identity of the successful bidder was also unknown, though the car was on display at the museum of renowned collector Peter W. Mullin up until his death in early 2024.
Bugatti Type 41 Royale ‘Coupe de Ville Binder’
In 1932 Ettore Bugatti called his Type 41 model ‘the Royale’ as he foresaw selling this luxury coupe only to the Royal Families of Europe and planned to make only 25 of the model. As it was, there were just six buyers, so he had to rethink his plan - all of which makes the Royale a rarity among rare cars. This Royale was originally fitted with a two-seat body designed by Ettore Bugatti’s son, Jean. But this vehicle was rebodied by renowned coach-builder Henri Binder, hence the name. Its history includes being hidden in the sewers of Paris during World War II, and ownership changing hands many times in the USA from the 1960s onwards. Volkswagen eventually brought the Coupe home in 1999, buying it for $20 million and using it for promotional purposes ever since.
Bugatti La Voiture Noire
Whereas the previous two Bugatti models on the list could be referred to as rare historical works of art, La Voiture Noire is very much a rare modern one-of-a-kind. A very special ‘Special Edition’ valued at $18.9 million, ‘The Black Car’ – so called in tribute to the great lost version of the classic Atlantic - was produced in 2019, based on the Chiron in as much as it has the same powerful engine, but with a totally unique body design. Again, the owner of this most limited edition has never been confirmed. Though rumoured to be Cristiano Ronaldo at one point, it seems likely that the owner is none other than Ferdinand Piech, the Chairman of Volkswagen at the time that it revived Bugatti.
Bugatti Chiron Profilée
It’s difficult to imagine a more prestigious or exciting collaboration than one that involves Bugatti, Porsche and Croatian electric supercar company, Rimac. So little wonder that this one-off special edition sold for $10.7million in 2023. The collaboration with Rimac is ongoing, with a focus on electric hypercars, but this Chiron Profilée was both the first and last of its kind, hence the price tag. Cars don’t come more stunning than this one, not only in terms of looks but also the power engineering. This Chiron model will never be replicated again, making the Profilée the end of an era for Bugatti.
Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante
This model also has its origins back in the mind of Ettore Bugatti himself, as it was the direct descendant of the Atlantic model. It is not as rare a machine as others on the list, with 43 models made, but you’d be hard pressed to locate many in the world. The vehicle that sold for over $10million in 2022 was in near pristine condition, with the bodywork designed by Ettore’s talented son, Jean, looking as majestic as the day it was first rolled out in 1937. Amazingly, another Atalante had been discovered in Tyneside, UK just a few years earlier, having been left in a garage for nearly 50 years by its owner. Once restored, the car also sold for over $10 million at auction in 2020.
It's fair to say there are two significant ages of Bugatti in automobile history. The Bugatti as designed and manufactured by company founder Ettore in the first half of the 20th Century is still seen as a beautiful, historical vehicle worth owning, whatever the price. The Bugatti of the 21st Century, fuelled by the Volkswagen Group, is a status symbol worth paying millions to make the ultimate statement of success, power and wealth. But whatever the vehicle, Bugatti supercars are as much about luxury, speed and excellence as ever they were.
