1995 Bugatti EB110 GT Coupe

That Club Bugatti France actually welcomes owners of the EB110 is testament to the members’ regard for Artioli’s effort

by Donald Osbourne

Forty years after Ettore Bugatti’s death in 1947, the once legendary marque—one of the most renowned in automotive history—was acquired by ambitious Italian businessman Romano Artioli. His aim was nothing less than a resurrection of Bugatti as a state-of-the-art supercar.

Designated “EB110” (signifying 110 years after Ettore’s birth), the first new Bugatti since the 1950s was an advanced mid-engined supercar acclaimed as worthy successor to its formidable antecedents.

The Bugatti EB110 was designed by none other than engineer Paolo Stanzani and stylist Marcello Gandini, co-creators of the exotic Lamborghini Countach. Beneath the skin there were similarities too, the short-stroke V12 engine with forward-mounted gearbox having been pioneered on the Countach.

To the already outstanding specification, Stanzani added five valves per cylinder, four turbochargers, a bespoke 6-speed gearbox, and four-wheel drive. Despite the complexity, the EB110...