The genius of Jean Bugatti, the visionary designer and engineer who imbued the entire automotive world with his pioneering creations lay not only in his engineering prowess but the unmatched aesthetic proportions of his designs. The Type 55 stands as a testament to his supreme talent..
The Type 55 Super Sport – a marvel of motorsport inspiration – boasted a 2.3-liter straight-eight engine derived from the formidable Type 51 racer. What set it apart, however, was the sought-after two-seater roadster body of Jean Bugatti’s design. As Bugatti’s inaugural Super Sport, the Type 55 not only marked the foundation of a new category but it also served as the blueprint for all modern-day Super Sport models, redefining grand touring – seamlessly blending comfort with a remarkable top speed of 180 km/h.
Yet, Jean Bugatti’s ingenuity extended beyond engineering – introducing the then groundbreaking duotone paint scheme that would eventually inspire Bugatti’s iconic contemporary A/B color split. And today, the most revered Type 55 model wears the timeless combination of black and yellow.
The Type 55 Super Sport is a rare gem, with only 38 units ever crafted. Its scarcity only adds to its status as a coveted collectors’ piece. Its legacy, as the pioneer of the Grand Prix car for the road segment, captured the imagination of a Chiron Super Sport¹ customer and the Sur Mesure team.
For the customer and for Jascha Straub, Manager of Sur Mesure and Individualization at Bugatti, the ‘55 1 of 1’ commission was an opportunity to pay tribute to Jean Bugatti’s groundbreaking creations that, in blending elegance and engineering prowess, impacted the modern-day Bugatti brand. “Even 100 years after his time, we have remained totally connected to Jean and his designs” noted Straub. “And inspiration for us today still comes from Jean because he understood proportions better than anybody else and was the first to offer cars combining comfort and sheer performance. Imagine, almost 100 years ago, the Type 55 was able to reach 180 km/h.”
With this at the forefront of his mind, Straub worked hand-in-hand with the customer and the Bugatti partner in Dubai to delve into the marque’s rich history, capture the aura of the Type 55 Super Sport and seamlessly infuse it into the design of the contemporary Chiron Super Sport to offer a timeless modern interpretation of the original car’s distinctive elements.
In capturing the essence of the historic car, the Sur Mesure team focused on the now famous duotone paint scheme introduced by Jean with the Type 55, utilizing the black and yellow combination so favored by Ettore Bugatti. On the Chiron Super Sport, the colors not only serve to portray dynamism but also as a means to visually break up the expansive surfaces of the hyper sports car. The design process was a delicate balance between coloring specific areas and maintaining cohesion with the overall design. The dominant focal point is a black centerline reminiscent of the Type 55. This visual element is further embellished through the grille design, which runs a black line around the famous Bugatti central air intake, and a sleek yellow line that flows from the back of the rear side of the car to the fenders.
Throughout the creative development, Bugatti intensively worked to evolve and modernize elements of the Type 55 to produce a car that is unmistakably of this century, but one that respects to the early pioneering work of Jean Bugatti whilst embodying the DNA of a Bugatti Sur Mesure project.
In this sense, the ‘55 1 of 1‘ draws on an approach that involved deploying a meticulously hand-applied fading ‘55’ pattern above the headlights and over the fenders, to center attention to the horseshoe grill and narrow the appearance of the front end – recalling the distinctive fuselage shape of its predecessor, imparting a feeling of elegance, but also one of strength and speed. “From a distance, the ‘55’ pattern ensures that the fender appears to be black like on the original car,” said Jascha. “On the original historic car, where you have some parts that end at a certain point, you can just paint until the shut line. But with the Chiron Super Sport, it had to fade into zero. It was a long and intricate process, but it was the right approach.”
The ‘55 1 of 1’ commission balances its bold styling with minimalist black 10-spoke wheels. A yellow ‘EB’ emblem in the center delicately connects the alloy design to the Chiron Super Sport’s bodywork. The underside of the rear wing meanwhile provides a distinct link to the design’s roots – ‘55 1 of 1’ written in cursive nods to the masterpiece that inspired this artistic creation.
Jean’s meticulous attention to detail extended beyond the exterior, influencing the interior aesthetic as well. As such, the references to the Type 55 Super Sport reach into the inside of the ‘55 1 of 1’. Featuring sleek black leather that further accentuates the exterior aesthetic, the cabin includes unique accents such as embroidered headrests displaying a unique ‘55 1 of 1’ inscription. The fading ‘55’ motif also continues, this time skillfully hand-stitched into the door panels in a vibrant yellow color.
In further recognition of Jean Bugatti’s visionary contributions, his signature is prominently placed on the door sill and the car’s dedication plate. Together, these interior details not only underscore the aesthetic allure of this Chiron Super Sport but also create a deep connection between the driver and the storied heritage of the Bugatti brand.
