The Bugatti EB110 is a quirky, fantastic ’90s supercar
The Bugatti EB110 just might be peak 1990s supercar. By the numbers, it stands proud as a significant piece of history with tech that would not be utilized on other cars for many years.
The latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage highlights the model named in homage to Ettore Bugatti’s 110th birthday. Though Ettore was not around to see it, the EB110 is a true-to-form Bugatti. The funky-looking supercar packed a 3.5-liter V-12 force-fed by four turbochargers, and Jay happens to have one of the engines on a stand. It is amazing to see how compact the package is—especially with the six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel-drive system baked into the setup.
Interestingly, the window design is a form-follows-function type deal, with a shrunken window fixed upper portion constructed to withstand the force of high speeds. A standard glass window at the time could not withstand the air pressure of a 213-mph top speed.
According to the EB110 Registry, just 115 production EB110s left the factory, not including a handful of prototypes or unfinished cars. Many still survive, and though the model was never federalized and sold in the U.S., thanks to show and display law and the 25-year import rule they have begun to appear stateside—including at the Scottsdale auction this last week.
Both Bonhams and Gooding & Company featured 1993 EB110s across auction blocks in Scottsdale last week, but both went unsold. Gooding now has the silver supercar listed on its website with an asking price of $850,000. The Bonhams consignment didn’t meet reserve with a high bid of $760,000. Despite those no-sales, the EB110 is starting to get more respect and appreciation than in recent years, even though its overall usability and performance is a fraction of what the Veyron and Chiron offer.
