9781422285169

Bugatti 41

The Bugatti 41, better known as the Royale, was one of the most expensive luxury cars ever built. Bugatti planned to build 25 of these magnificent cars and sell them to royalty. But, due to the Great Depression, only six were ever made. All six of these still exist today, making the Royale one of the rarest cars in the world. Ettore Bugatti supposedly designed the Royale after a number of his cars were claimed to be second best to those of Rolls-Royce. The first Royale prototype had a massive 15-litre engine which was capable of producing 300bhp. It was based on an aero-engine design that had been used for the French Air Ministry. The chassis was supported by a conventional leaf spring suspension at the front and forward-facing Bugatti quarter- elliptics at the rear. The large brakes were mechanically operated by

cable controls and required a great deal of strength from the driver to operate. The original prototype was unfortunately destroyed in an accident in 1931. The Royale was in production from 1927 to 1933. King Alfonso of Spain was one of the first to order the Royale in 1928 and was assured by Bugatti himself that his car would be delivered within the year. But the king was left disappointed by the length of time it took to make his Royale and never did receive it. The first Royale to finally reach its customer was not until 1932. Each Royale would cost the customer a staggering $30,000. Of the six Royales built, only three were sold to external customers, none of whom were royalty, despite that being its original intention. Bugatti himself refused to sell one of these cars to King Zog of Albania

Three of the six cars were hidden behind a false brick wall at the home of the Bugatti family to avoid being commandeered by the Nazis during World War II. after claiming that his table manners were not to his liking. Everything about the Royale is of the first magnitude. Its size, value and scarcity were all extreme. Each one has a unique body shape, tailored to the original customer’s requirements.

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