There is hardly a greater rarity in the automotive world than a sedan with the Bugatti emblem, which is literally “frozen in time“. This month, collectors held their breath after the auction house RM Sotheby's put up for sale a true unicorn - the unique Bugatti EB112 from 1999. The price of this jewel is expected to be between 1.5 and 2 million euros, making it one of the most expensive limousines in history.
In fact, before our eyes is the last of only three produced copies of the model, which never saw the light of day in mass production. Its story is worthy of a novel: the car was completed especially for the Monegasque businessman Gildo Palanc Pastor and remained his property until 2015. Even more striking is the fact that in its 27 years, this Bugatti EB112 has covered a modest 388 kilometers. You read that right – it is practically new, reeking of luxurious leather and French aristocracy.
Underneath the elegant streamlined shapes, the work of the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign, lies technology borrowed directly from the EB110 super sports car. The chassis is woven from carbon fiber, but unlike its coupe sibling, here the heart is located at the front. And what a heart! A naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 engine that generates 460 hp and 590 Nm of torque. All this power is transmitted to all four wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission, launching the limousine to 100 km/h in a stunning 4.3 seconds. The top speed? Even today, 300 km/h sounds respectable, and in the 90s this was the territory of the gods.
The interior is a true oasis of discreet luxury – four separate armchairs, wrapped in the finest materials, without unnecessary kitsch. The Bugatti EB112 project was supposed to be the top of the ice cream in the segment of ultra-luxury four-door cars, but the bankruptcy of Bugatti Automobili in 1995 put an end to the dreams. Today, while the first copy rests in the Italdesign museum, and the second is hidden in a secret private collection, this third car appears as a rare artifact. This is not just a car, but a piece of living history waiting for its new guardian.