1993 Bugatti EB110 Coupe

The mid-engine Bugatti EB110 sports car was unveiled on September 15, 1991, in both Versailles and in front of the Grand Arch at La Défense in Paris, exactly 110 years after Ettore Bugatti's birth. Power was from a 60-valve, quad-turbo V12 which sent its horsepower to all four wheels through a six-speed gearbox. It produced 560 PS at 8000 RPM and could race from zero-to-sixty mph in 4.2 seconds. In 1992, a lighter and more powerful version was introduced, with 612 PS and dubbed the EB110 SS (SuperSport). This car was capable of 216 mph and had a zero-to-sixty mph time of just 3.2 seconds.

The Bugatti history began in the pre-war era, with a legacy that was formed in its racing prowess and engineering. Ettore Bugatti produced some of the most incredibly engineered vehicles of their time. They were known for their incredible performance cars and their lavish street cars, which often incorporated lessons learned from the company's experiences on the track.

Unfortunately, the Bugatti Company closed its doors in 1952. Italian Ferrari dealer Romano Artioli dreamed that the brand could be revived through the construction of a new supercar. Artioli established Bugatti Automobile SpA in October 1987, and the following year, the construction of a new, state-of-the-art factory in Campogalliano, Italy, began. After four years of planning, designing, and construction, they introduced a supercar that was worthy of carrying the Bugatti name.

The newly formed company had to create a vehicle that was not only worthy of the Bugatti name but could also compete with the Ferrari F40, the Porsche 959, and Lamborghini's new Diablo. The 3.5-liter V-12 Bugatti EB110 was given four turbochargers and had 550 horsepower at its disposal. The angular and aggressive styling was courtesy of Giampalo Benedini and Marcello Gandini. It had exotic 'scissor doors,' breathtaking styling, and equally impressive performance. Inside, the cabin featured leather and wood trim in similar fashion to the luxurious road cars of Bugatti's heritage.

Artioli's dream, however, for the new Bugatti was short-lived. In 1995, the manufacturer went bankrupt due to the effects of a worldwide economic recession, and the assets of the company were sold to Jochen Dauer. Dauer had enough spares at his disposal to create an additional 11 production cars before Bugatti closed its doors in Italy for good. By that time, a total of 139 examples had been produced.

This particular Bugatti EB110 is the sixth production example built by Bugatti. Work was the car was completed in 1993 and was sold new to Yutaro Okamoto, a Japanese-based collector, and it was originally finished in dark green over a grey leather interior. Mr. Okamoto enjoyed the car on the Italian Bugatti rally in June 1994. After the rally, the car was shipped back to Japan. Later, the car was refinished in its current shade of Bugatti racing blue and the dashboard and transmission tunnel were re-trimmed in grey alcantara. Recently, the car has been imported into the United States from Japan under the Show and Display Law.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2015