Check Out Bugatti’s Restored Very First Veyron Grand Sport
Bugatti released a very special edition vehicle called the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport prototype in 2008. The very first member of the elite family was paraded at Pebble Beach and showcased throughout the world since that time. This was a limited edition production run in the La Maison Pur Sang program. It’s back and once again making the rounds but this is much more than just another collectible. Granted every member of the production run for this rare car is special but this one has a place in the history books of the automaker for a few reasons.
Bugatti’s new initiative
According to Robb Report, Bugatti launched a new initiative to acquire its rare breeds and bring them back to factory condition. The automaker got its hands on the very first prototype vehicle of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport made. It’s a version called the Grand Sport 2.1 and Bugatti acquired the vehicle to bring it back to its origin at the Molsheim headquarters to give it a good going over. They stripped it down to confirm that this was in fact the real thing, confirming its VIN. The Veyron fully repainted the exterior in the color it had been originally presented with. It’s a white silver metallic hue. The inside received a new center console along with new aluminum components and cognac leather just like the original configuration. The goal was to restore the rare car to as close to its original state from the factory as possible. The restoration of the Grand Sport 2.1 took four months.
Why is this car so important?
The car that Bugatti took the effort to reacquire is one of 150 limited edition 16.4 Veryrons released. It’s a Grand Sport 2.1, but this is the very first car in the line. It is the prototype that led the small herd that followed. The vehicle was stripped and authenticated and that is what makes it such a rare and valuable collectible. Only one vehicle in the line has this distinction, which places it firmly in the history books of the brand. It also enhances its value. This particular model was purchased by Bugatti, fully restored, and it has already found its new home with a collector who wasted no time snapping it up.
Under the hood
According to Bugatti, is equipped with a W-16 engine and a 7-speed transmission with a horsepower rating of 1,000. It was once the fastest car in the world reaching speeds of 253 mph with the roof up. When in its convertible configuration the top speed is 224 mph, which is enough to put you back in the seat. It moves from zero to 62 mph in a mere 2.7 seconds. The Bugatti 16.4 Grand Sport 2.1 is loaded with performance specs to deliver a thrilling experience for the driver.
A long and storied history
The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is a roadster with ancestral ties that go back to the late 1920s and the first part of the 1930s when the automaker released the type 40 and the type 43. The title Grand Sport was first applied this far back in history by Ettore and Jean Bugatti. They became the predecessors of the current editions which all occupied the title of ultimate sports car for their respective eras in time. The brand has a rich history for delivering the most beautiful cars aesthetically, with so much power that they’re not for the average Sunday driver, but rather for those with a deep craving and desire for luxury combined with speed and performance. For those who believe that you can’t have it all, we say you’ve likely never sat behind the wheel of a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, and if given the opportunity, we encourage you to give it a try. It’s a supercar that could very well change your point of view on the matter.
The rare Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport 2.1
The prototype that made its debut at Pebble Beach in the summer of 2008 was auctioned after its restoration to factory condition. The event drew collectors from all over the world where the historical vehicle also broke another record. It was auctioned to the lucky winner for a price that exceeded three million dollars. The Veyron 16.4 was produced from 2005 through 2015 in various limited edition variants, each extremely rare, and it’s been confirmed by the dealership that the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is now a vehicle that’s hard to find because Bugatti revealed that all models are completely sold out.
Final thoughts
Once in a while, something truly grand happens. Bugatti’s reacquisition of the very first Veyron Grand Sport prototype was an exciting event. Remarkably, they were able to get their hands on the rare vehicle but to take the time to painstakingly restore it to its original glory, was an attention-getter. Understandably, Bugatti would take such pride in its design and workmanship. They know who they are and what they’re capable of producing as Bugatti has a long track record of producing some of the finest and the fastest vehicles in the world with some degree of consistency. The name of the brand stands on its own, but setting the reputation aside, a personal experience with a Bugatti Veyron is life-changing. You can go back to your other rides and appreciate everything you enjoyed about them including performance, fuel efficiency, and even the aesthetics you love, but you’re forever changed because you’ve had an encounter with a vehicle that is arguably, as good as it gets. The ultimate supercar has set the bar high with a price that puts it well out of the reach of the average blue-collar worker. The Bugatti Veyron is the stuff that dreams are made of, but isn’t it nice to dream?