TGR Staff - 05/06/2023
Château Saint Jean, the historical home of Bugatti, is a destination of pilgrimage for many enthusiasts. It is the exclusive site for assembling modern Bugatti hyper sports cars and serves as the brand's heritage site, connecting back to Ettore Bugatti who bought and renovated the château to host customers and introduce them to the Bugatti lifestyle. Presently, a select few individuals from around the world have the privilege of visiting this site, including a devoted Bugatti collector who recently made an exceptional trip.
This long-time customer has amassed an exclusive collection of rare vehicles from Molsheim, including all of the World Record Cars such as the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition, Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition, and Chiron Super Sport 300+1. The collector's desire was to bring his collection back to its birthplace, to be reunited with the team that brought these hyper sports cars to life. His wish was granted when these record-breaking vehicles, along with the Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang and the Divo from The Singh Collection in Punjab, India, were carefully driven up to the Château Saint-Jean.
The Chiron Super Sport 300+ was the last world record car built to commemorate the first production car that exceeded 300 mph (482.80 km/h). In 2019, a variant of the 300+ set a new record by traveling at 490.48 km/h, making Bugatti Pilote Officiel and Le Mans 24 Hours winner, Andy Wallace, the first person to drive a production car at such speeds. Andy himself visited Molsheim to meet with the collector and join in the historic reunion.
The quest for achieving unparalleled speeds in the modern era of Bugatti traces back to June 2010, when the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport set a record of 431.07 km/h at the Ehra-Lessien test track, surpassing the previous record holder's speed. Bugatti Pilote Officiel and former racing driver, Pierre-Henri Raphanel, who drove the car that day, welcomed the collector to Molsheim and shared the thrill of his own world record experience.
Three years later, Bugatti created another milestone, setting a benchmark for the world's fastest open-top car with the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, reaching 408.84 km/h with the roof down. Both of these world records are immortalized in Bugatti history, with a limited production run of cars that celebrated the feats. The collector's passion was such that he not only wished to own these record-breaking hyper sports cars but also to gather them at the place of their creation. This was a great moment and a tremendous emotional experience for the entire Bugatti team.
Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles, expressed his appreciation for the collector's dedication to the Bugatti brand and its history, achieving a collection of all three record-breaking cars alongside a Veyron Pur Sang and the coach-built Divo. He further stated that Bugatti ownership is much more than the car itself and that they were honored to welcome the collector and his cars home to Molsheim, creating an unforgettable experience.
“Every time I come to Molsheim, I not only feel part of the Bugatti family, I feel part of Bugatti history. With these cars reunited where they first came to life, I felt an even stronger connection to the brand’s incredible legacy. My cars returned home, but the team made me feel as if I had also returned home – it’s a truly incomparable feeling,” said the anonymous customer.
To commemorate this special day, Bugatti Design Director, Achim Anscheidt, hand-signed all of the collector's cars, including a special note for the three world record cars that read: "In record-breaking friendship. Molsheim, 26/4/23." In return, the collection's owner delivered a special gift, to be kept in Molsheim. Late in 2022, Bugatti worked with Champagne Carbon to develop the unique La Bouteille Noire, a hand-crafted carbon fiber case in the style of La Voiture Noire3, which housed within its leather-lined interior a 15-liter bottle of fine vintage Champagne. This one-of-one creation. bought by The Singh Collection, Punjab, India, and now adorned with a personalized inscription, will be temporarily housed at Château Saint Jean, available for visitors to admire.
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