To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Monterey event, 15 - 17
August 2019.
Estimate:
$1,100,000 - $1,300,000
- Acquired new by and offered from the Lingenfelter
Collection
- One of 252 Veyron coupes; 76 U.S.-specification examples
- The original 1,001 hp supercar; 253 mph top speed
- Showing just 1,527 original miles
- Recent 18,000-mile service
The Bugatti Veyron is an unlikely promise of a supercar that not
only delivered, but also took the supercar world to an unimaginable
level. Volkswagen's announcement in 1998 that it would acquire and
revive the storied French marque as the ultimate supercar brand was
met with equal parts excitement and skepticism. How could they,
even as a well-heeled automaker, be expected to deliver on their
promise of an all-wheel-drive, 16-cylinder modern
ultra-high-performance supercar?
Within six months of Volkwagen's acquisition, Bugatti flexed its
muscles at the 1998 Paris Motor Show with the first of three show
cars. The Giugiaro-penned EB118, a coupe inspired by the legendary
teardrop Bugatti Type 50 and 57SC Atlantic models, housed a W-18
engine that was essentially a trio of 60-degree V-6s. The EB118
wouldn't set the stage for Bugatti's styling direction as much as
it would showcase its permanent all-wheel-drive platform. A sedan
show car followed the next spring at the Geneva show, again with
W-18 power.
The first two VW-era Bugatti show cars were technological
masterpieces dripping with luxurious touches. At the 1999 Frankfurt
Motor Show, however, Bugatti showed off what they wanted the marque
to do with its 18/3 Chiron show car. Styled by Fabrizio Giugiaro,
the low-slung concept featured an aerodynamic body with a
relatively short front end and the W-18 engine mounted behind the
passenger compartment. Bugatti took advantage of the
all-wheel-drive system found in the Lamborghini Diablo VT and
specified a five-speed manual gearbox instead of the automatic that
had featured in the company's previous show vehicles. The car was
appropriately named after Bugatti race driver Louis Chiron, who won
nearly two dozen Grand Prix events over a 25-year span.
A production-intent model followed at the 1999 Tokyo show, this
time christened the 18/4 Veyron. Bugatti edged a step closer with
the 16/4 Veyron concept, which finally went into production in
2005. Even with the lengthy buildup, the production Veyron 16.4 was
nothing short of astounding.
Power output is an astounding 1,001 horsepower and 922 foot-pounds
of torque that can vault the Veyron from a standstill to 60 mph in
a mind-boggling 2.47 seconds. At Volkwagen's test track, one of the
few stretches of pavement capable of safely handling such a
high-performance car, the Veyron topped 253 mph. Top Gear presenter
James May verified the Veyron's otherworldly acceleration on
camera, and noted that reaching 253 mph rather than the car's
"normal" 213 mph top speed is an event at every step.
"Even when you've sorted the venue, you can't just jump in the car
and go...You have to insert a special key into a slot by the door,"
May, ironically nicknamed "Captain Slow," said. "And when you do,
the diffuser flaps close, the rear spoiler retracts, and the whole
car hunkers down to become as slippery as possible."
Compared to others, the Veyron is not a featherweight, delicate
car. Unladen, the all-wheel-drive supercar weighs about 4,200
pounds. Ten radiators are fitted to keep the massive engine and its
auxiliary functions cool under the immense stress of the W-18's
power. Enormous cross-drilled, radially vented
carbon-fiber-reinforced ceramic-carbide-composite brake discs are
gripped by eight-piston front and six-piston rear calipers. The
rear wing also acts as an air brake, helping the car to a halt from
249 mph in about a third of a mile, or just 10 seconds. Doing so is
not for the faint of heart, but Bugatti tested the system with
repeated 1.0 g braking from 194 mph to 50 mph without discernible
fade, care of the special rotors.
Amazingly, the Veyron met its maker's goal of providing
continent-slaying performance in luxury. The car's cabin is
outfitted to the highest imaginable standard with a bevy of luxury
fittings along with modern car features such as a powerful climate
control system, a sonorous stereo, and even the security of air
bags.
The Veyron 16.4 offered here is one of just 252 coupes produced
worldwide, of which only 76 were built to U.S. specification.
Completed in mid-2007, the Bugatti was acquired new by the renowned
Lingenfelter Collection in Brighton, Michigan. The car was finished
in a combination of Black Blue Metallic and Dark Bugatti Blue with
silver accents over a Havana leather interior with engine-turned
metal trim. The Veyron has since remained a treasured part of the
Lingenfelter Collection, where it has been exhibited with pride for
over a decade. It has been actively displayed at several concours
events throughout Michigan, including the Meadow Brook Concours
d'Elegance in 2007 and 2010, EyesOn Design in 2011, and the
Concours d'Elegance of America at St. John's in 2012 and 2016. The
Veyron was even featured in the music video for Beyonc�'s hit song
"Party" featuring J. Cole. Currently, the odometer shows just 1,527
miles, and the 18,000-mile service has been performed. The car
includes its original owner's manual as well as the sales contract
with Bugatti.
This masterpiece of engineering and design represents the pinnacle
of modern performance. Few automotive enthusiasts would argue that
the Veyron wasn't worth the wait, and all agree that it is
deserving of the storied Bugatti badge.
Please note that due to California emissions, this vehicle must be
sold to a dealer or out-of-state resident.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo19.
