Rare Tribute
When it comes to the Bugatti Veyron, people would think the automaker sold a lot of them, and generally you’d be right. The Veyron marked the modern reintroduction of the Bugatti brand, but it also spawned some exceptional special-edition versions.
One of the rarest Veyron editions is the 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse ‘Jean-Pierre Wimille’, which pays tribute to a key figure from Bugatti’s storied past.
Simon Gosselin/RM Sotheby’s
The Grand Sport Vitesse ‘Jean-Pierre Wimille’
A listing on acclaimed auction house RM Sotheby’s website showcased the sale of a 2014 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse ‘Jean-Pierre Wimille’. This special edition Veyron is just one of three ever made and pays tribute to the first-ever race car driver to win in a Bugatti during the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1937. The Jean-Pierre Wimille Veyrons are actually part of a 6-car collection called ‘Les Légendes de Bugatti’.
The car was based on the Targa-roofed Grand Sport model, which housed the Super Sport-derived 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16, the most powerful Bugatti engine at the time, rated at 1,200 hp. To handle all that power, the chassis was reinforced in-house to reduce body movement under acceleration, deceleration, and cornering. In the end, it all paid off, the car could do 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds, with a top speed of 254 mph, making it the fastest roadster ever made.
Its exterior paint scheme features a two-tone layout that also pays tribute to the 1937 Type 57G raced by Wimille. The paint itself is a specially commissioned Bleu Wimille found on select panels of the car. An outline of the Circuit de la Sarthe sits prominently on the underside of the active rear wing, while Wimille’s signature is laser-engraved onto the petrol and oil filler caps.
Inside, the pairing of Bleu Wimille and dark Lake Blue upholstery runs throughout the cabin. You can also see Wimille’s signature on the headrests and a crest of the Circuit de la Sarthe between the seats, as well as the ‘Les Légendes de Bugatti’ logo on the door sills. Lastly, the French national colors appear on the gear lever and steering wheel.
Simon Gosselin/RM Sotheby’s
Chasis 795063
As mentioned, this car is one of just three ever made, and was delivered to its first owner back in May 2014 in Dubai. The accompanying service booklet shows the car was serviced at Bugatti Dubai in May 2016 and then in October 2017. The car also has registration history in Germany and Switzerland showing a change of ownership; it showed a total of only 3,766 km (2,340 miles) at the time of cataloging.
Now, the price. This ultra-rare Veyron exchanged hands at the hammer for CHF 4,505,000, or around $5.4 million at current exchange rates. That’s a new world record for a Bugatti Veyron, according to RM Sotheby’s.
Simon Gosselin/RM Sotheby’s
