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1995 Bugatti EB110 SS

The storied Bugatti manufacturer was founded in 1909 by Ettore Bugatti with the purpose of building a fast car that was capable of enduring the most punishing conditions demanded of a racecar of that day. The cars that left their factory were not only fast but were stylish works of art in their craftsmanship. The end of Ettore Bugatti's grand company came when it was sold to Hispano-Suiza in 1963, 15 years after his death. The death of his son Jean in 1939 ensured that there was no one to carry on, but the Bugatti name has seen several reincarnations over the years.

Bugatti automobile production would remain dormant for many decades, only to be awoken by an Italian Ferrari dealer named Romano Artioli who believed that he could return it to its former glory through the construction of a new supercar. Bugatti Automobili SpA was established in October 1987 and broke ground on a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility the following year in Campogalliano, Italy. After four years of design and development, Artioli and his team of designers and engineers believed they had created a car that was worthy of the fabled Bugatti name. Their creation was unveiled to the world on September 15th, 1991 at the Palace of Versailles, in front of the Grand Arche de la Defénse in Paris. In celebration of Ettore Bugatti's 110th birthday that same day, the car was appropriately named the EB110.

From 1991 through 1995, there were 139 examples of the Bugatti EB110 vehicles produced. The angular and aggressive design was courtesy of Giampalo Bendini and Marcello Gandini, and the interior was swathed in leather with contrasting wood trim, giving a nod to the road cars of the company's past. Power was from a 3.5-liter quad-turbo V12 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

The EB110 SS, meaning Super Sport, was introduced in 1992 at the Geneva Salon, six months after the launch of the EB110 GT. It was lighter and more powerful and capable of a top speed of 216 mph. Upgrades included a new ECU, larger injectors, and a less restrictive exhaust system, resulting in an increase of power from 550 to 603 bhp. Overall weight was reduced by replacing some aluminum panels with carbon fibre, and tipped the scales at just 3,100 pounds. It is believed that there were 31 (as many as 33) examples of the SS produced and a total of 95 GT models. Eight examples were pre-production models with aluminum chassis, followed by eight with composite platforms.

The EB110 SS sold for a staggering $350,000 putting it well out of reach of most consumers. Michael Schumacher purchased a banana-yellow EB 110 Super Sport which helped boost the model's popularity.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

A well-known group of men from the 'Motor Valley' got together to create a piece of artwork that also went fast. They created a masterpiece, but one that was short-lived as they spent so much on development and very little on construction, they soon became insolvent. This car has ties to Lamborghini with Ferruccio Lamborghini as well. The Bugatti EB110 SS is a 3.5 liter, V-12 Quad Turbo that creates 603 horsepower and has a top speed of 221mph. Combine that with all-wheel drive and remove 330 pounds from the standard EB110 and the result is the SS. Only 30 'Super Sport' models were produced.

This EB110 SS was one of the 'lost' Bugatti EB's during the bankruptcy. It was at a supplier's workshop during the bankruptcy and liquidation. The car was discovered in Germany and acquired from the original owner. The car was certified by the Bugatti factory and fully serviced by world-renowned B-Engineering. The car was also signed by Romano Artioli. It is fully documented and has all the original books, tools, and paperwork. This Bugatti has 529 kilometers on its odometer and is 100% unrestored.

From 2019 through 2021 the car was on display at Bugatti for the EB anniversaries.

Coupe
Chassis number: SS44

This EB110 Sport Competizione is one of only two EB110s originally built for racing. It was developed and built in-house at the Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. Campogalliano factory, based on the experience gained from the EB110 that raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1994. The Monaco Racing Team owned by Gildo Pallanca Pastor entered this EB110 for the IMSA championship (in the GTS-1 class) and in races of the BPR series in 1995 and 1996, supported by Derek Hill and ex-Formula 1 Ferrari driver Patrick Tambay. The EB110 SC competed at Watkins Glen, Sears Point, and the Suzuka 1000 km in 1995. Though Bugatti went into receivership at the end of 1995, the EB110 SC was nevertheless entered in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1996 - although an accident in Le Mans prequalifying prevented its participation in that race. Its last race was the 2 Hours of Dijon in June 1996, where the EB110 finished 3rd in the first heat.

When Ettore Bugatti died in 1947, the Bugatti Company ceased production. The long, historic, and prestigious lineage of the famous Bugatti Company was no more. That is until 1989 when an Italian entrepreneur named Romano Artioli purchased the rights to the Bugatti name and began automobile production in an area north of Modena, Italy.

To honor Ettore Bugatti, the EB 110 was created. 'EB' was short for Ettore Bugatti. Launched on Ettore's 110 birthday, 09-15-1991, the naming EB 110 was formed. It was first shown to the public at the Grande Arche at La Défense in Paris, France.

The powerplant is one of the most advanced and complex engines ever created while the chassis and design is just as superb. Marcello Gandini of Bertone was tasked with creating a unique and stylish body that would be a modernized tribute to the glorious designs of the past. The result was an aerodynamic masterpiece with a horseshoe-shaped grille and an aluminum body. Aluminum was chosen because of its lightweight but sturdy characteristics. Aerospatiale, a French aviation company, was commissioned to aid in the production of the body, due to the metals being difficult to shape. The body panels were bonded to the carbon fibre monocoque chassis, one of the first road-going vehicles to use this design and technique. In the front were push-rod operated shock absorbers while the rear featured dual shock absorbers on each side.

Mounted mid-ship was a 60-degree 3.5-liter V12 with dual overhead camshafts and producing an impressive 550 horsepower. Four IHI turbochargers aided the engine in producing its impressive power. This power was sent to all four wheels, 73% going to the rear, with the help of a six-speed manual gearbox. Zero-to-sixty was accomplished in about 3.6 seconds while top speed was achieved at 209 mph. Ventilated Brembo disc brakes brought this monster to a stop.

The scissor doors were truly exotic. The engine was visible through a glass cover, and the rear wing was speed sensitive. Five pre-production prototypes with aluminum chassis were constructed, followed by eight with composite.

If this wasn't enough, an EB 110 SS version, meaning Super Sport or Sport Stradale, was created. The interior was void of unnecessary amenities and luxurious. In total, more than 150 kg was stripped from the vehicle. The four-wheel drive system could be replaced with a lighter, rear-wheel drive configuration, decreasing the weight even further. The turbo boost was increased and the compression was dropped to 7.5:1, resulting in a rise in horsepower to around 615. Further modifications set the horsepower rating to as high as 650. Air holes located behind the side windows and seven-spoke alloy wheels helped distinguish the standard GT car from the SS.

The Bugatti EB110 SS made an appearance at the 1994 24 Hours of LeMans race. This was their first appearance in 55 years. Positioned in the GT1 class, vehicles with horsepower up to 600, the Bugatti was the fastest during training, outperforming the Dodge Vipers, Porsche Carrera RSR's, DeTomaso Pantera's, and the rest of the competition.

Right before the race, a fuel leak was discovered. Araldite was used to seal the leak but it meant that the Bugatti had to use a half tank of gas for the first couple of shifts. After the Araldite dried, a full amount of fuel could be used. The Bugatti quickly showed its potential, cracking the top-ten. A problem with the turbochargers sent the team scrambling to replace them. The problem was fixed and the Bugatti was back on the track. Near the close of the race a tire failure sent the Bugatti into the barriers and the EB110 SS was forced to retire.

Since that time, the EB110 SS has raced at Watkins Glen, Daytona 24 Hours, and other races. Gildo Pallanca-Pastor drove an EB 110 SS on the frozen sea in Oulu in Finland, in 1995, capturing the World Speed Record on Ice with a speed of 296.3 km/h.

Produced from 1991 through 1995, only 95 GT's and 31 SS's were produced. One of the SS's was purchased by Michael Schumacher. It is unfortunate that the EB110 was introduced just when the supercar market crashed. The $350,000 SS model was expensive but well worth the money. The Bugatti Company was forced to file for bankruptcy while the remaining materials were sold to B Engineering and used for the use of their sports car, the Edonis.

During the close of the 1990's, Volkswagen AG secured rights to the Bugatti name, again reviving the nameplate.

The EB110 is a car Ettore would be proud to wear his name. It successfully captured the lineage of Bugatti and modernized it into a 210+ mph road-going sports car. The four-wheel-drive system was heavy, meaning it was not as fast as other supercars of the day. In wet and rainy weather, the EB110 could easily outperform the rest of the class.

by Dan Vaughan