Bugatti Royale · A Monument

by G. Fernández – theartwolf.com
Theartwolf.com takes a closer look at Rolling Art with this retrospective look at one of the most fascinating automobiles ever built, the Bugatti Royale.

When the terms “Art” and “Classic Automobile” come together, the name Bugatti always appears – or should appear. From its beginnings at the dawn of the 20th century until World War II, Bugatti represented the zenith of industrial design, creating models like the immortal Type 57 SC, which is still considered today as one of the most beautiful – if not the most beautiful – automobiles ever created. But few models are as fascinating as the supreme Type 41, known as the “Royale”, the Car of Kings, conceived as the ultimate expression of the automobile in a double aspect: the mechanical, with a huge 13-liter engine and 300hp of maximum power at just 1,700 revolutions per minute, and the artistic, with their bodyworks conceived by many of the best designers of the time.

Six examples of this rolling monument have survived, in addition to a seventh car rebuilt from an original chassis.

Bugatti Royale Coupe Napoleon by Ettore Bugatti (1930)

Chasis 41.100 – Built from the chassis of the original prototype (now destroyed), the Coupe Napoleon designed by Ettore Bugatti opened the way for subsequent Royales-especially to the Coupe by Binder- with its spectacular body. The car is now exhibited at the el Musee National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse, France, along with other two Royales.

Bugatti Royale Roadster “Esders” by Jean Bugatti (1931)

Chassis 41.111 – It is considered one of the great designs of the prodigious and ill-fated Jean Bugatti, but more for the difficulty of wrapping the gigantic chassis and engine of the Royale with a roadster body than for the aesthetics of the model, which is less fascinating than that of the coupes. The model was destroyed and later rebuilt from the original chassis, so it is not considered one of the “original” six. Despite this, it is one of the stars of the Musee National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse, France.

Bugatti Royale Coupe de Ville by Binder (1931)

Chassis 41.111 – Arguably the most famous of all Royales, this coupe designed by French coachbuilder Henri Binder was conceptually similar to the “Napoleon” designed by Ettore Bugatti (chassis 41.100) but its body was more and harmonious and attractive. This model, the star of a past edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’elegance, is now at the collection of the Volkswagen group, who acquired the car in 1999 for an undisclosed sum, rumored to be higher than $15 million, a very reasonable sum considering the fact that that price was the minimum asking price at the 1996 Barrett-Jackson auction, where the car was unsold.

Bugatti Royale Cabrio by Ludwig Weinberger (1933)

Chassis 41.121 – One of the most attractive of all Royales was this beautiful cabriolet “dressed” by the Munich coachbuilder Ludwig Weinberger. Originally painted in black and yellow –one of Bugatti’s favorites combinations of colors- the car was sold to German doctor Joseph Fuchs, who was forced to move to New York before the World War II. The car was almost destroyed, but Charles Chayne, a future General Motors employee, acquired the car for a ridiculously low price and restored it, adding some changes as the new blank painting still conserved today. The car is currently exhibited at the Henry Ford Museum.

Bugatti Royale Limousine by Park Ward (1933)

Chassis 41.131 – Used to design the bodies of some of the most coveted models by Rolls Royce and Bentley, British coachbuilder Park Ward put a British touch in this serious and massive Royale, far different from the sport spirit of the previous coupes, even more with the presence –unique among all Royales- of a spare wheel on both sides of the car. Today this Royale is exhibited at the Musee National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse, France, the birthplace of all Royales.

Bugatti Royale Coupe por Kellner (1931)

Chassis 41.141 – Arguably the most elegant of all Royales, this beautiful coupe built by French coachbuilder Kellner was the model chosen by Ettore Buggati to represent the Royales at the 1932 Olympia Show. In addition, this coupe was sold for $8.7 million in 1987, then the highest price ever paid for an automobile.

Bugatti Royale Berline de Voyage by Ettore Bugatti (1930)

Chassis 41.150 – Designed by Ettore Bugatti, the looks of this berline are strangely traditional, which is understandable because this car, despite the number of its chassis, was the first Royale ever completed, not counting the lost prototype. This automobile belonged to the Harrah collection for many years, and it is now part of the private collection of a Korean businessman.