(Bugatti)
This is the ‘Black Bess' Veyron Grand Sport
Vitesse, the latest run-out special in the
manufacturer's ‘Legend Edition' series.
Bugatti tells us that it's inspired by its rickety
1912 Type 18 - nicknamed Black Bess because
it was, um, black - which means the GSV's
wearing the same monochromatic paint. But
with a few details picked out in gold. Not gold
paint, but 24 carats of the proper stuff, plating
the front grille, wheel caps and filler flap.
Inside is more of the same. The door cards
and rear cabin feature several doodles of the
Type 18, and some scribbles of a bloke called
Roland Garros' aeroplane - a Morane-Saulnier
Type H, if you're interested. Unfortunately, they
won't buff out - Bugatti's developed a special
application process so the they won't be
damaged by wear and tear.
As well as new leather finishes, you'll also find
more gold accents in the cabin - there's a
gilded EB badge and elephant logo, though
mercifully, the dial bezels haven't been dipped.
The steering wheel's also been fiddled with to
tribute the T18 - it's got a red rim inspired by
the 1912 model.
At this point, you may be wondering a) why
you've never heard of a Type 18, and b) what
the hell it's got to do with a 253mph, 1183bhp
Veyron. Well, there are only three T18s left,
and Bugatti reckons it was the world's first
super sports car, packed as it did a 100bhp
5.0-litre four-cylinder engine that could shunt
it to 100mph. Which isn't bad considering the
Type 18 is older than some religions.
And the plane? This is where it gets a bit
tenuous. Bugatti's founder, the eponymous
Ettore, hillclimbed a Type 18, winning the
1912 Mont Ventoux event. On the back of his
victory, seven examples were sold, and one
went to French aviator, Roland Garros, who
owned the Morane-Saulnier Type H pictured.
Simple, no?
Want Black Bess in your life? She's heading to
next week's Beijing motor show. There's no
word on price, but just three will be built, so
don't expect a bargain.
Bugatti ‘Black Bess' Veyron Grand Sport
Vitesse.
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