The Bugatti EB110 GT is one of the most fascinating and ambitious supercars of the 1990s. It marked the rebirth of Bugatti after decades of dormancy and was a technological marvel of its time. Here’s a deep dive into its story, history, and significance.
The story of the EB110 begins in the late 1980s, when Italian businessman Romano Artioli decided to revive the legendary Bugatti brand, which had been dormant since 1952. Artioli, a passionate car enthusiast and successful entrepreneur, envisioned bringing Bugatti back as the ultimate name in high-performance luxury automobiles.
He founded Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. in 1987 and set up operations in Campogalliano, Italy. This location became home to a state-of-the-art factory and research facility, known as the Blue Factory, which was considered one of the most advanced car production centers at the time.
The car's name, EB110, was a tribute to Ettore Bugatti (the company’s founder) and marked the 110th anniversary of his birth in 1991, when the car was unveiled.
The Bugatti EB110 was designed to be the ultimate supercar of its era, featuring cutting-edge technology and materials never before seen in a road car.
The design of the EB110 was a collaboration between several designers, including Marcello Gandini (famous for designing the Lamborghini Countach and Miura) and Gianpaolo Benedini, who refined the final look.
The EB110 GT debuted on September 15, 1991, in a grand event at Versailles, followed by a presentation in Paris at the Grande Arche de la Défense—a fitting launch for a car that was meant to be as grand as Bugatti’s legacy.
The EB110 instantly made waves in the automotive world, competing with other early '90s supercars like the McLaren F1, Jaguar XJ220, and Ferrari F50. It was praised for its incredible acceleration, stability, and build quality, with many considering it ahead of its time.
Famous owners included Michael Schumacher, who purchased an EB110 SS in yellow, further adding to its mystique.
Despite its technological brilliance, the EB110's success was short-lived. Several factors contributed to the downfall of Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. in 1995:
As a result, Bugatti was forced into bankruptcy in 1995. The assets, including remaining EB110 chassis and parts, were later acquired by the Dauer Racing Company and B Engineering, who produced a few modified versions (like the Dauer EB110 and Edonis).
Though Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. collapsed, the EB110’s spirit lived on. In 1998, the Volkswagen Group acquired the rights to Bugatti, leading to the creation of the Bugatti Veyron in the 2000s—an indirect successor to the EB110 in terms of extreme performance and luxury.
In 2019, Bugatti paid tribute to the EB110 by unveiling the Bugatti Centodieci, a modern hypercar inspired by the EB110, based on the Chiron platform.
Today, the EB110 is considered a collector's dream, with auction prices soaring past $3-4 million due to its rarity and historical importance. Only 139 units of the EB110 were ever built (95 GTs and 44 SS versions).
The Bugatti EB110 GT was a groundbreaking supercar that pushed engineering boundaries and reintroduced Bugatti to the modern world. Though the company behind it failed, the car itself remains an icon of 1990s performance and innovation—a machine that was truly ahead of its time.
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