If it ever goes on sale, it will be the first car in history to be priced at nine digits
"Nothing is too nice, nothing is too expensive!" - Etore Bugati
When you are the son of an artist who designs jewelry, the grandson of a sculptor and an architect, it is logical that an affinity for art and the notion of beauty will be something that will always accompany you. If you were born in Milan under the influence of centuries-old artists, the ground where every creation is viewed from a different angle, you are doomed to be an eternal perfectionist who admits nothing less.
As such, Etore Bugati made its first prototype vehicle after 18 years of technical school at the age of 18, in 1898. This was followed by a series of prototypes for which he received financial support from his grandfather Giovanni, who as an artist recognized the same trait in his grandson.
It didn't take long for Etore to be noticed, and he soon received the offer of Baron Adrien de Turkheim to join his factory and create cars together. So he moved to what was then Germany, where they successfully cooperated until 1906. He founded his own factory, Etore, in 1909.
Driven by the desire for pure perfection, Etore is constantly pushing the boundaries of motoring, winning the first Grand Prix of Monaco and creating some of the most trophic grand prix cars ever in the early twentieth century.
He also transfers the glory from the racetracks to his other cars, which are slowly beginning to reach the very top of motoring. The desire of the rich, who are racing to have their breathless Etore creations in their garage, is becoming increasingly common.
Yet Etore himself suffered a huge blow when, at a gala evening, a certain Duchess told him that Rolls-Royce was a far superior car to her. How much the next day Etore set out to create the creation, as he liked to say, "the most superior car ever created." And how right he was…
At a time when the European monarchies were dying, Etore was creating a "royal" car. From 1927 to 1933, it produced six chassis and multiple bodywork for the same.
Everything on Royale was "royal." Out of 12.7 liters of volume, a regular eight-cylinder engine with three valves per cylinder and a camshaft in the head developed a record 300 horsepower during that time. By comparison, the main competition had power units between 120 and 165hp.
The unit itself was half of the famous U-16 unit developed by Etore in the mid-1920s for the needs of the aviation and rail industries. It is therefore not surprising that the Royale aggregate alone was 140 centimeters long and 110 centimeters long.
But not only was the engine huge, but almost everything on the Royale was titanium. The wheels were 24 inches in diameter, while the brake drums were as much as 18 inches (current records for serial cars). They absolutely needed to stop the car, 6.4 meters long and weighing as much as 3,150 kilograms, which, despite its impressive dimensions, could develop a speed of 160 km / h.
The height of the car contributed to the giant appearance of the car as the hood was as much as 150 centimeters high. To make things more interesting, at the top of the hood there is an elephant that stands up, almost at the height of the eyes of a man of average height.
All this makes the Bugatti Royale the greatest production car of all time, and how massive it may have been is perhaps best shown by being 20 percent larger and 25 percent heavier than the modern counterpart of its biggest rival, the Rolls-Royce Phantom.
All of the above was accompanied by an adequate price. The bare body chassis sold for $ 30,000, which is approximately $ 370,000 in today's currency. Etore thus supplied the chassis, to which the buyer was then able to mount the body of his choice. With the bodywork, the price of Royale ranged from 45,000, which is about $ 560,000 today.
The exclusivity was complete, as Etore carefully selected its customers. Thus, in the early 1930s, he rejected an offer from Albanian King Zog the First, who wanted to buy a copy of Royale. After a business dinner at which to set a deal, Etore declined the offer and then stated that "he would never sell a car to a man with such table manners."
Although the exclusivity of this unique car was fully preserved, fate wanted the "royal" Bugatti never to this day to be owned by some royal family.
A total of six (plus one) specimens of Bugatti Royale have been made, and all six have been preserved in perfect condition to this day. The seventh car was crashed by Etore Bugati himself.
None of the six cars have been on sale for more than 20 years. The owners are jealously guarding them, and it is said in collectors' circles that if any of the original cars (in the meantime a number of replicas were made) are ever sold - we will get the first car in history to reach the price of nine digits.
"Perfection is unattainable. However, Royale must be ranked near supercar perfection!" - Etore Bugatti.
"Nothing is too nice, nothing is too expensive!" - Etore Bugati
As such, Etore Bugati made its first prototype vehicle after 18 years of technical school at the age of 18, in 1898. This was followed by a series of prototypes for which he received financial support from his grandfather Giovanni, who as an artist recognized the same trait in his grandson.
Driven by the desire for pure perfection, Etore is constantly pushing the boundaries of motoring, winning the first Grand Prix of Monaco and creating some of the most trophic grand prix cars ever in the early twentieth century.
He also transfers the glory from the racetracks to his other cars, which are slowly beginning to reach the very top of motoring. The desire of the rich, who are racing to have their breathless Etore creations in their garage, is becoming increasingly common.
Yet Etore himself suffered a huge blow when, at a gala evening, a certain Duchess told him that Rolls-Royce was a far superior car to her. How much the next day Etore set out to create the creation, as he liked to say, "the most superior car ever created." And how right he was…
At a time when the European monarchies were dying, Etore was creating a "royal" car. From 1927 to 1933, it produced six chassis and multiple bodywork for the same.
The unit itself was half of the famous U-16 unit developed by Etore in the mid-1920s for the needs of the aviation and rail industries. It is therefore not surprising that the Royale aggregate alone was 140 centimeters long and 110 centimeters long.
But not only was the engine huge, but almost everything on the Royale was titanium. The wheels were 24 inches in diameter, while the brake drums were as much as 18 inches (current records for serial cars). They absolutely needed to stop the car, 6.4 meters long and weighing as much as 3,150 kilograms, which, despite its impressive dimensions, could develop a speed of 160 km / h.
All this makes the Bugatti Royale the greatest production car of all time, and how massive it may have been is perhaps best shown by being 20 percent larger and 25 percent heavier than the modern counterpart of its biggest rival, the Rolls-Royce Phantom.
All of the above was accompanied by an adequate price. The bare body chassis sold for $ 30,000, which is approximately $ 370,000 in today's currency. Etore thus supplied the chassis, to which the buyer was then able to mount the body of his choice. With the bodywork, the price of Royale ranged from 45,000, which is about $ 560,000 today.
Although the exclusivity of this unique car was fully preserved, fate wanted the "royal" Bugatti never to this day to be owned by some royal family.
A total of six (plus one) specimens of Bugatti Royale have been made, and all six have been preserved in perfect condition to this day. The seventh car was crashed by Etore Bugati himself.
"Perfection is unattainable. However, Royale must be ranked near supercar perfection!" - Etore Bugatti.
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