When Bugatti launched its six-part special series “Les Légendes de Bugatti” in 2013, the Molsheim marque was paying tribute to the most influential milestones and personalities of its history. In April 2014, the Volkswagen subsidiary opened the fifth chapter of that story with a dazzling world premiere at Auto China in Beijing. This time, the designers honored a 1913 Type 18 that later became known as “Black Bess.” This early ancestor of today’s supercars once belonged to aviation pioneer Roland Garros, who was looking for a car that would let him travel as fast on land as he did in the air. With a top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph), the Type 18 was the fastest road car of its day, laying the foundation for Bugatti’s modern high-speed icons.
Launched in 2014 and limited to just three examples, the historically inspired special edition pairs jet-black bodywork with contrasting gold elements. Above all, it is the choice of materials that sets the modern Black Bess apart from “ordinary” Veyrons: for the first time, the Alsatian company coated body parts with 24-carat gold. The distinctive horseshoe in the radiator grille, the EB logo on the tail and the wheel hub caps all gleam in the coveted precious metal. Radiating gold-colored pinstripes also run from beneath the headlights across the front fenders toward the doors. Engraved fuel and oil filler caps bearing gold-colored “Black Bess” lettering complete the exterior makeover.
Beneath the elegantly styled skin sits the mighty quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 engine of the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. With 1,200 PS (1,184 hp) and 1,500 Nm (1,106 lb-ft) of torque, the roadster was the fastest open production car of its time: in 2013, a Grand Sport Vitesse set a world record of 408.84 km/h (254 mph). A lightning-fast seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sends the power to all four wheels.
The real sensation, however, awaits inside. The door panels, trimmed in the finest leather in a shade called Havanna, were illustrated in ink entirely by hand. This technique is also a nod to the era of the original Black Bess, as it was used in luxury cars of the early 20th century. The hand-drawn motifs depict the historic Type 18 as well as Roland Garros’s airplane. To keep the artwork from fading or wearing off after just a few years, Bugatti developed a special new impregnation treatment.
This highly exclusive collector’s car, offered by Amian Collection Cars, is the only example built to US specification and therefore the only Black Bess that can be registered in the United States. Its next owner will have the rare opportunity to combine the finest craftsmanship with maximum performance.
