The ultimate hypercar of the early 2000s is currently available for online auction.
A 2008 Bugatti Veyron has been listed through the Premium section of Bring a Trailer. It offers a rare chance to buy one of the 76 examples made for the United States.
Making the 253 mph Veyron even more special, is that it has taken the accolade of being the 50,000th vehicle listed on the auction website.
The pursuit of excellence
The Veyron was the product of a single-minded pursuit, to deliver the aims of the late Volkswagen Group Chairman, Ferdinand Piëch. A passionate and determined engineer, Piëch masterminded the purchase of the Bugatti brand and then set big goals for a new car.
Following a number of concept cars in the late 1990s, Piëch eventually agreed to the Veyron’s design. This included ensuring the car could hit 400 km/h, but be just as usable as a Volkswagen Golf.
After years of testing and development, the Veyron EB 16.4 was finally launched in September 2005. The name was a tribute to Pierre Veyron, a 1930’s racing driver who won the Le Mans 24 Hours race with Bugatti.
No replacement for displacement
The Veyron’s centrepiece is the 8.0-liter W-16 engine, fitted with four turbochargers and two intercoolers. Such an impressive feat of engineering resulted in an output of 987 horsepower and 922 lb-ft of torque.
When using the special key to unlock “high speed” mode, the Veyron is capable of hitting 253 mph. This achievement saw it claim a Guinness World Record in 2005, for being the fastest production car in the world.
A permanent all-wheel drive system was installed to handle all the power, with a bespoke seven-speed dual-clutch transmission manufactured by Ricardo. These rapid gear shifts allowed for a 0-124 mph time of just 7.3 seconds.
Ensuring the Veyron stops quickly are carbon ceramic brakes, aided by a rear wing that can move to act as an air brake.
Performance and refinement
Although the incredible engine and carbon fiber chassis are all about performance, the Veyron remains luxurious inside.
The car listed on Bring a Trailer has an interior finished in black leather, matching the Beluga Black exterior paintwork. Alcantara is used for the headlining, and machine-turned aluminum is the main trim used on the center console.
Automatic climate control, and a Burmester sound system, add to the refinement. However, the 280 mph speedometer, and magnesium paddles for the gearbox, will be the main focus for any Veyron driver.
Pleasingly, this Veyron has not spent its life living in a garage. The odometer currently shows 8,000 miles, and the car benefits from a custom stainless steel exhaust and a new battery.
A landmark car for a landmark event
Bugatti produced 252 examples of the standard Veyron EB 16.4 between 2005 and 2011. Just 76 cars were sent to the United States, with this being the 29th example.
Supplied with the Veyron is an original HP iPaq Pocket PC, used to obtain performance data from the car, and a battery tender. Most important of all, the special key used to put the Veyron into top-speed mode, is still in its case.
As such a rare car, and one that marks a special milestone in Bring a Trailer history, expect plenty of big bids for the Veyron. The auction is live now, and will run until Friday, June 25.
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