A little history
After Italian businessman Romano Artioli bought the right to the Bugatti name in 1987, the company was revived in Modena at the end of 1991. Though it would have obviously been unconceivable that a late-20th century sports car would be fitted with the traditional Bugatti rigid front axle as a hint to a glorious past, the new EB110 was nothing more than a brand new GT with an old and prestigious name attached to it. This doesn’t mean the car was a bad one – very far from that. Introduced in Paris on September 15, 1991, the exact day of Ettore Bugatti’s 110th birth anniversary – hence the name – the EB110 was advertised as the most technologically advanced GT in the world and, with its 3.5-litre V12 fitted with four turbochargers, providing 542 hp to drive the four wheels through a six-speed gearbox, the claim was probably true. On top of a carbon fibre chassis designed by aeronautical company Aérospatiale was placed a striking body penned by the famed Marcello Gandini. In 1992, an even faster EB110, the “SS” variant, was introduced. With almost 600 hp, the lightened SS could flirt with the 350 kph mark, and accelerated from 0 to 100 kph in a stunning 3.2 seconds.
The EB110 was launched with fanfare and, despite a lofty price tag (up to 350,000 dollars), at first generated enough orders to justify Artioli’s grand dreams. By the end of 1993, a four-door prototype, the EB112, had been presented. Furthermore, famous British manufacturer Lotus had been acquired from General Motors through one of Artioli’s holding companies. Alas, this activity just concealed Bugatti’s poor financial health. Recession on the EB110’s most important markets pulled the sales down. In September 1995, bankrupt Bugatti Automobili SpA was liquidated.
About the model
Considering Bburago’s traditional disdain for details, its EB110 is rather nice. Though the absence of door windows is noticeable, the overall shapes of the car are well rendered. Even reduced twenty-four times in size, the car’s lines are still remarkable – Gandini never lost his flair since the Miura! A permanent concern, Bburago’s tyres are always too wide – no problem here, as the original EB110’s rubbers are themselves gigantic. Doors and engine compartment can be opened, and front wheels can be steered. On the other hand, the cockpit is Bburago’s usual collection of thick dark plastic parts, very toy-ish in appearance – better keep your eyes on the outside. My rating is 12/20.
Model: Bugatti EB110
Year: 1991
Maker: Bburago
Scale: 1/24
Distributed by: Bburago, "Bijoux Collection" series
Acquired: brand new, in April 2003, in Brive, France
After Italian businessman Romano Artioli bought the right to the Bugatti name in 1987, the company was revived in Modena at the end of 1991. Though it would have obviously been unconceivable that a late-20th century sports car would be fitted with the traditional Bugatti rigid front axle as a hint to a glorious past, the new EB110 was nothing more than a brand new GT with an old and prestigious name attached to it. This doesn’t mean the car was a bad one – very far from that. Introduced in Paris on September 15, 1991, the exact day of Ettore Bugatti’s 110th birth anniversary – hence the name – the EB110 was advertised as the most technologically advanced GT in the world and, with its 3.5-litre V12 fitted with four turbochargers, providing 542 hp to drive the four wheels through a six-speed gearbox, the claim was probably true. On top of a carbon fibre chassis designed by aeronautical company Aérospatiale was placed a striking body penned by the famed Marcello Gandini. In 1992, an even faster EB110, the “SS” variant, was introduced. With almost 600 hp, the lightened SS could flirt with the 350 kph mark, and accelerated from 0 to 100 kph in a stunning 3.2 seconds.
The EB110 was launched with fanfare and, despite a lofty price tag (up to 350,000 dollars), at first generated enough orders to justify Artioli’s grand dreams. By the end of 1993, a four-door prototype, the EB112, had been presented. Furthermore, famous British manufacturer Lotus had been acquired from General Motors through one of Artioli’s holding companies. Alas, this activity just concealed Bugatti’s poor financial health. Recession on the EB110’s most important markets pulled the sales down. In September 1995, bankrupt Bugatti Automobili SpA was liquidated.
About the model
Considering Bburago’s traditional disdain for details, its EB110 is rather nice. Though the absence of door windows is noticeable, the overall shapes of the car are well rendered. Even reduced twenty-four times in size, the car’s lines are still remarkable – Gandini never lost his flair since the Miura! A permanent concern, Bburago’s tyres are always too wide – no problem here, as the original EB110’s rubbers are themselves gigantic. Doors and engine compartment can be opened, and front wheels can be steered. On the other hand, the cockpit is Bburago’s usual collection of thick dark plastic parts, very toy-ish in appearance – better keep your eyes on the outside. My rating is 12/20.
Model: Bugatti EB110
Year: 1991
Maker: Bburago
Scale: 1/24
Distributed by: Bburago, "Bijoux Collection" series
Acquired: brand new, in April 2003, in Brive, France
No comments:
Post a Comment