Bugatti unveiled the EB110 in September 1991, 35 years ago. However, the car vanished when its maker went bankrupt in 1995. It is the missing chapter between Ettore Bugatti’s racing cars and the Veyron and Chiron. So this guide tells the story of the Bugatti EB110 in pictures, with a spec table, a timeline and the prints that carry it forward.
Bugatti EB110: the car that restarted Bugatti
Bugatti had been silent since the 1950s when Italian businessman Romano Artioli decided to revive the name. In 1987 he founded Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. and set up a factory near Modena. His goal was simple: build the most advanced road car in the world, and do it under the most prestigious badge in motoring.
The name hides a date. EB 110 honours Ettore Bugatti, born on 15 September 1881, so the car arrived on what would have been his 110th birthday. Bugatti showed it on 14 September 1991 in front of the Grande Arche at La Défense, near Paris. Then a launch day followed at Molsheim, the historic Bugatti home in Alsace, on 15 September. The Wikipedia entry on the EB110 gives the full chronology.
What made the Bugatti EB110 so advanced
In fact, in 1991 the numbers were astonishing. Because almost every figure was a record or close to it, the EB110 looked like the future of the supercar. The table below shows the two versions side by side.
| Specification | EB110 GT | EB110 Super Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.5 L V12, 60 valves, four turbochargers | 3.5 L V12, 60 valves, four turbochargers |
| Power | 560 PS (553 hp) | 612 PS (603 hp) |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel drive, 6-speed manual | All-wheel drive, 6-speed manual |
| Top speed (official) | 342 km/h (212 mph) | 355 km/h (221 mph) |
| 0 to 100 km/h | 3.46 s | 3.26 s |
Marcello Gandini drew the prototype, and Giampaolo Benedini finished the production styling and the interior. Paolo Stanzani led the early engineering, then Nicola Materazzi became chief engineer for production. The chassis used carbon-fibre skins bonded to an aluminium honeycomb, a technique borrowed from aerospace.
Why the Bugatti EB110 was forgotten
Unfortunately, the timing was brutal. The car appeared as the early-1990s recession hit the luxury market. Rivals were also fresh: the Ferrari F40 from 1987, the Lamborghini Diablo from 1990 and, in 1992, the Jaguar XJ220 and the McLaren F1.
Bugatti built only 139 cars between 1991 and 1995. Then Bugatti Automobili went bankrupt in 1995 and closed its doors, and in 1998 Volkswagen bought the Bugatti name. As a result, the EB110 became a footnote. However, collectors never forgot it. Michael Schumacher bought a yellow Super Sport in early 1994, and Dauer Sportwagen assembled the last car in 2002.
From the Bugatti EB110 to the Chiron: the timeline
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1991 | EB110 unveiled in Paris, launched at Molsheim |
| 1995 | Bugatti Automobili goes bankrupt and is liquidated |
| 1998 | Volkswagen acquires the Bugatti name |
| 2005 | Veyron 16.4 enters production |
| 2016 | Chiron revealed in Geneva |
So the story runs in a straight line. First, the EB110 proved that a modern Bugatti could exist. The Veyron then made it real, and the Chiron pushed it further with an 8.0-litre W16 and 1,500 PS.
Bugatti EB110 in fine art: what our catalogue holds
Here is the honest part. There is no EB110 photograph in the catalogue today, because the car is rare and owners rarely show examples in public. Instead, what we do offer are the modern Bugatti photographs that continue its story.
First, the Bugatti Chiron Sport photographed at Big Sur is the cleanest answer, from €78. The Bugatti Chiron and Porsche GT3 RS “Canyon Road Legends” puts two modern icons on one road, also from €78.
Also, for the real contemporaries of the EB110, look at the Ferrari F40 “Red F40” and the Lamborghini Diablo on the Pacific Coast Highway. Hang these three together, and they tell the story of the early-1990s supercar in one glance.
Which room and which format
| Room | Format idea | |
|---|---|---|
| Home office or dark den | Chiron Sport | Large aluminium print, close to the desk |
| Living room | Chiron and GT3 RS | Acrylic glass for depth and colour |
| Hallway or staircase | F40, Diablo and Chiron | Series of three prints at the same size |
| Showroom or garage | The same trio | Aluminium, hung at eye level |
Each photograph is a limited edition of 200 copies on aluminium or acrylic glass. In addition, canvas is available outside the limited edition, and we sell every print without a frame. To compose a series, read our guide to diptychs and triptychs, and to choose colours, see how to match a car print to your interior palette. Finally, browse the full sports car photography collection for more modern icons.
Why collectors still talk about the Bugatti EB110
Three things keep the EB110 alive. First, the engineering was serious: a 3.5-litre V12 with five valves per cylinder and four turbochargers, all-wheel drive, and a carbon-fibre structure at a time when most rivals still used steel and aluminium. Second, the production run was tiny, so every surviving car has a name and a history. Third, the design by Marcello Gandini sits between the wedge shapes of the 1970s and the rounded supercars of the late 1990s, which makes it instantly recognisable today.
That mix explains why the EB110 has aged into a cult car. Owners drive it, enthusiasts debate it, and anyone who skips 1991 tells the Bugatti story incorrectly. In other words, the car was early, not wrong.
How to give the Bugatti EB110 story a place on your wall
A forgotten car makes a good conversation piece. For example, hang a modern Bugatti next to a print from 1990s supercar history, and guests will ask what links them. You then tell the EB110 story in two sentences, which is the whole point of owning a photograph with a narrative behind it.
Because we print on aluminium or acrylic glass, the details of the paint and the light survive at large sizes. Pick one hero print for the wall you see every day, then add a second print later if you want to build a small series.
Bugatti EB110 FAQ
How many Bugatti EB110 were built?
Bugatti built 139 EB110 between 1991 and 1995, in GT and Super Sport versions. Workers assembled a few more cars after the company collapsed. That tiny number explains why the EB110 is so rarely seen today.
How fast was the Bugatti EB110?
The official top speed was 342 km/h (212 mph) for the GT and 355 km/h (221 mph) for the Super Sport. The Super Sport also reached 100 km/h in 3.26 seconds, which was extraordinary for 1991.
Why is it called EB110?
The name honours Ettore Bugatti, born on 15 September 1881. Bugatti launched the car on 15 September 1991, which would have been his 110th birthday. The letters EB are his initials.
Is there a Bugatti EB110 print at Cars and Roses?
Not at the moment. The closest prints are the Bugatti Chiron Sport at Big Sur and the Chiron with the Porsche GT3 RS, both from €78. They show the modern chapter of the same story.
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