Molsheim/Pebble Beach – August 16, 2008 – Following the introduction of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, chassis No. one (to be built in Spring 2009) sold for $3.19 million at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auction.
This super fast car provoked intense back and forth bidding that ended with a hammer price of $2.9 million (before buyer’s premium) bringing in more than $900,000 over the retail price of the car, which Bugatti will donate to the Pebble Beach Company Foundation charity.
The excitement and enthusiasm for everything Bugatti was evident throughout this year’s Gooding & Company auction that saw a US auction record set for the sale of a single car. The 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe from The Williamson Bugatti Collection, grabbed an astounding $7.92 million, proving that Bugatti remains at the top of the most coveted and valued cars in the world.
The Williamson Collection of 12 Bugattis sold for a total of $15.5 million. Other Bugatti top sellers included the 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster, which nabbed $1.76 million and the 1927 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix that sold for $1.45 million.
Before the classic Bugattis broke records under the auction tent the new Veyron was getting press attention on the lawn prior to the concours. The drop-top vehicle was built in response to customers who wanted an open-air experience when driving the “world’s fastest roadster.”
Responding to this need required significant modifications to be made to the vehicle’s complex structure. Looking at the car you notice that it has a slightly higher windscreen, stylized daytime running lights, and lightweight, transparent polycarbonate roof.
According to the company, the main challenge in developing the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport with removable roof resulted from the unique structure of the fixed-roof Bugatti Veyron. An optimum combination of rigidity and lightweight engineering ensures the monocoque passenger cell of the original model is extremely strong while weighing an absolute minimum – it is a central element of the vehicle’s structure. As the roof is an integral part of this, removing it meant the load flow had to be completely redesigned to maintain the vehicle’s rigidity and crash safety, and to offer additional protection from side impacts and rolling.
As a result, the monocoque structure has been reinforced around the side skirts and the transmission tunnel. The B-pillars have been cross-stiffened using a carbon fibre support, and a central carbon plate has been positioned beneath the transmission tunnel to ensure the vehicle suffers from less torsional flexing than any other roadster.
The doors of the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport are made of carbon fibre, and house an integrated longitudinal beam.
In the event of an accident, this transfers the load from the A to the B-pillar, thereby dissipating impact energy. Furthermore, the two redesigned air intakes for the 16-cylinder mid-engine now feature 10-centimetre wide carbon-fibre elements to offer protection should the car roll.
Along with moisture-resistant, backstitched leather, a range of new equipment features has been added to the interior, including a reversing camera with 2.7-inch monitor in the rear-view-mirror, and the “Puccini” sound system with digital signal processor.
When the roof is closed, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport can reach 407 km/h, (252.91 mph) while speeds of up to 360 km/h are possible with roof off. Should it rain, an innovative folding roof stored in the luggage compartment can be opened up like an umbrella at any time. When this folding roof is in place, the car can travel at up to 130 km/h (80.6 mph).
The open-top Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, assembled by hand at the company’s headquarters in Molsheim, France will be available from March 2009 at the price of 1.4 million euros (excluding tax, duties, transportation and PDI). Just 150 of these will be made with the first 40 going to registered Bugatti customers.
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