1. The Genesis: The Original Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport
When Ettore Bugatti’s son, Jean Bugatti, introduced the Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport at the 1931 Paris Motor Show, it created an entirely new category: the road-going super sports car.
Why Was the Original Special?
- Race-Bred Engineering: It brought pure Grand Prix technology directly to public roads. The chassis and supercharged twin-cam 2.3-liter engine were borrowed straight from Bugatti’s Type 51 race car.
newsroom.bugatti.com - Jean Bugatti’s Design Mastery: The Type 55 featured a revolutionary doorless, two-seater roadster body with sweeping flowing fenders, an iconic two-tone paint scheme, and no external door handles, prioritizing aerodynamic grace and structural stiffness.
www.sportscarmarket.com - Unmatched Performance: In the early 1930s, a street car capable of exceeding 110 mph with track-honed handling was virtually unheard of.
2. Production Numbers and Where They Are Today
How Many Originals Were Made?
Only 38 original Type 55 Super Sport chassis were produced between 1932 and 1935.
- 16 carried Jean Bugatti’s iconic factory 2-seater roadster body.
en.wikipedia.org - 7 received factory coupe bodies.
en.wikipedia.org - 15 were fitted with custom coachwork by outside coachbuilders such as Figoni, Gangloff, and Vanvooren.
en.wikipedia.org
Where Are They Now?
Because of their extreme rarity and historical weight, almost all surviving Type 55s are meticulously documented and housed in elite locations around the world:
Cité de l’Automobile (Mulhouse, France) | Houses the world’s largest public collection of historic Bugattis, including preserved Type 55 models from the legendary Schlumpf Collection. |
|---|---|
Private World-Class Collections | Preserved in private mega-collections (such as the Ralph Lauren Collection) and shown at prestigious events like the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. |
Top Auction Houses | When a Type 55 appears at auctions via Bonhams, Gooding & Company, or RM Sotheby’s, prices regularly command $4 million to $7+ million, depending on original chassis and racing heritage. |
3. The Modern Era: The Bugatti Super Sport Resurgence
The Super Sport badge returned in subsequent eras to push the boundaries of top-speed engineering:
gtspirit.com
- EB 110 Super Sport (1992–1995): A quad-turbo V12 beast producing over 600 hp with a carbon fiber chassis (~30–36 produced).
- Veyron 16.4 Super Sport (2010): A 1,200 hp hypercar that set a Guinness World Record top speed of 267.8 mph (431 km/h) (30 produced).
- Chiron Super Sport / Super Sport 300+ (2019–2024): The ultimate evolution of the W16 platform, breaking the 300 mph barrier (304.77 mph / 490.48 km/h).
www.motorshow.me
4. Design & Engineering Highlights of the Modern Chiron Super Sport
The modern Bugatti Chiron Super Sport embodies the same philosophy Jean Bugatti established 90 years earlier: uncompromising speed wrapped in timeless elegance.
newsroom.bugatti.com
Key Highlights & Features
- “Longtail” Aerodynamic Architecture: The rear bodywork is extended by approximately 25 centimeters to keep laminar air attached to the body for as long as possible, dramatically reducing aerodynamic drag at speeds over 250 mph.
- Quad-Turbocharged 8.0-Liter W16 Engine: Generating 1,578 hp (1,600 PS) and 1,600 Nm of torque, featuring larger turbochargers and a raised redline (up to 7,100 RPM).
- Negative Pressure Air Curtains & Wings: Front wheel arch vents release high pressure to prevent lift, while a revised diffuser setup eliminates the need for a massive high-drag rear wing during top-speed runs.
- Bespoke Interior Luxury: Despite exceeding 270+ mph effortless capabilities, the cabin remains insulated with ultra-luxurious full-grain leather, polished aluminum accents, and bespoke acoustic dampening.
Comparison: 1932 vs. Modern Super Sport
The thread connecting the original 1932 Type 55 to today’s hypercars is singular: an unwavering refusal to compromise between raw motorsport engineering and luxury design.
