In 1881, Ettore Bugatti, son of an Italian family of artists, is born in Milan. Following school and a brief spell at the College of Art in Milan, he begins an apprenticeship with the bicycle manufacturers Prinetti & Stucchi. He is greatly attracted to the technology and mechanics of the still young automobile. At the early age of 17, Bugatti fits two engines to a tricycle and takes part in several races.

In 1898, Bugatti assembles his first four-wheel vehicle for Prinetti & Stucchi. The Type 1, as it later comes to be called, has four engines. Two in front of the rear axle and one behind it.

Ettore Bugatti


In 1901, the Bugatti Type 2 wins a medal at the Milan Automobile Show. Baron de Dietrich, a vehicle manufacturer from Niederbronn in Alsace, is so impressed by the car that he puts Ettore Bugatti under contract. Between 1902 and 1904, about 100 automobiles of the Types 3, 4 and 5 are built under the name Dietrich-Bugatti.

In 1904, together with Emil Mathis, Bugatti builds a car driven by a four-cylinder engine with a four-speed manual gearbox and chain drive. This car was given the name "Hermes". It was the prototype for Type 6 and Type 7.

In 1907, Bugatti moves to Cologne and produces large-capacity four-cylinder models - the Types 8 and 9 - for the Deutz gas motor factory. Parallel to this, in the cellar of his house and at his own expense, he begins to design a small chassis with a four-cylinder engine and cardan-shaft drive.

In 1909, Ettore Bugatti begins with the production of automobiles at his own factory in Molsheim near Strasbourg. The Bugatti emblem graces all models from this time on. At the Paris Automobile Salon in 1910, the "Bugattis" are very well received. His cars are distinguished by progressive technology, high-quality finishing and aesthetic design. They are in keeping with the motto of Ettore Bugatti: "Nothing is too beautiful, nothing is too expensive". Over the next 47 years, cars with four, eight and sixteen-cylinder engines leave the Molsheim factory. Their incomparable body shapes transform the cars into legends. These include the "Tank de Tours" (Type 32) built in 1923, a racing car designed in the shape of an aircraft wing, or the luxurious Bugatti "Royale" (Type 41) of 1926, or the simply beautiful Atlantic Coupé (Type 57S) of 1936.
Motor-racing success is important for Bugatti: he uses the experience gained to develop new cars. At the same time, he benefits from the public exposure when selling his touring, racing and sports cars. Bugatti already reaps sporting success with the four-valve engine of the Type 13 in 1911. In 1921, Bugatti's team takes the first four places at the race in Brescia in this car. In 1924, the Bugatti Type 35 is used for the first time in a Grand Prix race. Built from 1924 to 1931, it is Bugatti's most successful sports car. It takes production team and private drivers from one win to the next, claiming more victories than any other manufacturer in this period. In 1939, Jean Pierre Wimille and Veyron are the last production team drivers to win the 24-hour race at Le Mans in a Type 57G.

In 1939, production in Molsheim is ended due to the war. Up to the death of Ettore Bugatti on 21st August 1947, tentative attempts are made to resume production. In 1956, an attempted restart with a Type 251 racing car fails. The arms group Hispano-Suiza-Mericier takes over the factory. Altogether, 7,950 Bugattis (Type 13 to Type 101) left the factory in Molsheim.

In 1991, The South Tirolean finance broker Romano Artioli resurrects the Bugatti marque. The then fastest sports car in the world (352 kph), the EB 110, is built in Modena in Italy. The chassis is made of carbon fibre in the Monocoque construction, the body of light alloy.

In 1993, the research prototype EB 112, a saloon with four-wheel drive, a 6-litre, 12-cylinder engine and 460 hp, makes its debut at the Geneva Automobile Salon. The saloon is built by ItalDesign under contract for Artioli. Its sporty, powerful design makes a great impression.

In 1995, Artioli's company goes bankrupt. In four years, 139 cars were built.

In 1998, the Volkswagen Group buys the rights to the marque. At the Paris Automobile Salon, ItalDesign presents the Bugatti EB 118 with a 6.3-litre, 18-cylinder engine producing 408 kW/555 hp, developed under contract for Volkswagen. In 1999, the Volkswagen Group presents the Bugatti EB 218 at the Geneva Automobile Salon and the Bugatti 18/3 "Chiron" at the International Automobile Exhibition (IAA) in Frankfurt.

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