Bugatti looks back on its factory debut at Le Mans.
Bugatti made history in 1937 with its first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the Bugatti Type 57G Tank finishing the incredibly daunting and legendary endurance race victorious. However, it was six years earlier in 1931 when Bugatti made its official factory debut at Le Mans, with the Type 50S, a car that Bugatti is now celebrating with its latest stunning Sur Mesure project: the Chiron Super Sport “Hommage T50S.”
The customer brief was an all-black bespoke Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, which led him to the story of the Type 50S. In its time, the Type 50S was the flagship of Bugatti’s line of vehicles with large, powerful engines, with the 50S specifically featuring a 5.0-liter supercharged inline 8-cylinder unit with a dual-overhead camshaft, with nearly 250 horsepower, an immense figure at the time. With its powerful engine and its luxurious long-distance comfort, Jean Bugatti believed that it could win the 24-hour race.
One of the three cars was painted black instead of the traditional French racing blue, because of the French government’s refusal to sponsor Bugatti’s entry to the race, and that car survived after one tragically crashed after showing strong performance potential. The black number 5 car would go on to serve as the inspiration for this new bespoke Sur Mesure Bugatti creation, with the racing number on the grille and sides of the car, and an echoing black exterior.
Subtle details include “Le Mans 1931” script, a map of the circuit on the underside of the rear spoiler, and engine covers with a historically-inspired “Perlée” engine-turned ornamental pattern. The black interior features accents in the same “Perlée” pattern, with a glass roof that reflects the classic, open thrill of the Type 50S’s silhouette, and “Le Mans 1931” details throughout the interior, as well. With an incredible story that stretches back nearly a century, this new bespoke creation from Bugatti Sur Mesure is yet another true automotive masterpiece.
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Image Source: Bugatti