The Era Of Excess
Most people will argue that the '80s were the true era of excess, especially in the automotive scene, but the '90s pushed things even further. The true birth of the hypercar class can be traced back to the '90s, with the top-speed science project McLaren F1, the Jaguar XJ220, and the elusive but infamous Bugatti EB110.
The latter, for all intents and purposes, reignited the Bugatti brand and set it on the path we know it for today. Back then, though, Bugatti wasn't yet funded by the mighty VW; in fact, it went bust. A rare EB110, thought to have been lost amid the drama surrounding the bankruptcy, has emerged and is up for sale.
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Saved By The Bell
As mentioned, Bugatti was revived in the '90s in Italy but soon encountered issues, leading to the 1995 filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In the process, several chassis currently under construction were either lost or quietly finished and sold off. Which is why any 1995 EB110 Super Sport is worth a lot of money; the mystique and rarity build its value among collectors.
Listed on Mecum Auctions is a particularly interesting 1995 EB110 Super Sport. Chassis 39021 was thought to have been lost and to have disappeared during the transitional period after the brand closed in the '90s.
Officially produced in 1994, this car was used as a demonstration and training model for suppliers, marking it as a special model compared to the standard cars made for customers. What makes this story even more interesting is that when the factory was padlocked, chassis 39021 wasn't in it. The car was with a supplier, undergoing some testing.
As the company's assets were being counted after the bankruptcy declaration, this particular car was forgotten and ultimately lost to time until now. Its return from the dead is considered a miracle for enthusiasts, adding it to the very exclusive list of just 30 Super Sports ever built. It has since been restored by B Engineering, headed by former Bugatti engineers. Despite its role for suppliers, this EB110 has only 413 miles of use.
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A True Collector's Item
The 90's EB110 Super Sport is considered one of the best of that era of high-performance cars. It featured one of the first dedicated all-wheel-drive systems for that class, and was powered by a mighty quad-turbo V12 making 603 hp. So good was the EB110 that Michael Schumacher bought one in yellow.
In Super Sport guise, the EB110 is even more coveted, as reflected by auction prices of previous sales. On average, an EB110 Super Sport sells for between $2.5 million and $3.5 million. Chassis 39021 might just fetch more money with a story unlike any other and deserves a spot in any collection.
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