Ultimatecarpage.com update (12-07-07)

[Wouter Melissen]

Dear Ultimatecarpage.com visitor,

In 1927 Ettore Bugatti fulfilled a long standing dream of building the most luxurious and exquisite car ever. Originally known as the 'Golden Bug', the new Bugatti easily eclipsed anything the likes of Hispano Suiza or Rolls Royce had to offer in more than one way. The official name for the 12.7 litre engined machine was the Bugatti Type 41, but most referred to it as the 'Royale'. This was more a reflection of the people it was intended for than of the actual customers; no royal has ever owned a Royale. Unfortunately the exceptionally high price meant that only three cars were ordered and another the other three built were retained by the Bugatti family. Some profit was eventually made by selling the remaining engines for railroad use.
Today the Royales have broken many price records; when five of them were gathered to celebrate the eightieth anniversary earlier this year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, they were (conservatively) insured at $12 million each. It offered a great opportunity to take a closer look at the Royales, four of which are in corporate collections or state owned museums. This Kellner Coach has held the record for the highest price ever paid for a car at an auction, while this Binder Coupe de Ville was bought by VW for a reputed $20 million. The other three have been in the same hands for over four decades with the Weinberger Cabriolet on permanent display in the Henry Ford Museum and both the Coupe Napoleon and the Park Ward Limousine take up a prominent position in the Schlumpf Collection.

Enjoy the links:

Bugatti Type 41 Kellner Coach
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3...ner-Coach.html

Bugatti Type 41 Binder Coupe de Ville
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3...-de-Ville.html

Bugatti Type 41 Weinberger Cabriolet
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3...Cabriolet.html

Bugatti Type 41 Coupe Napoleon
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3...-Napoleon.html

Bugatti Type 41 Park Ward Limousine
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/9...Limousine.html

Regards,
Wouter Melissen