‘In 1926, Ettore Bugatti conceived the Type 41 Royale as the ultimate luxury car, intended exclusively for royalty and heads of state.’
The Royale was designed to outshine Rolls-Royce, showcasing Bugatti’s unparalleled craftsmanship and engineering prowess.
The Royale measured over 6 metres long and weighed more than 3 tonnes, making it one of the largest cars ever built.
It featured a 12.7-litre straight-eight engine, initially designed for aircraft, delivering around 300 horsepower—incredible for its time.
1929: The Royale debuted during one of the worst economic downturns in history, the Great Depression, limiting its appeal to the intended elite clientele.
1930–1933: Despite plans for 25 units, only six Royales were built due to a lack of demand.
Each car featured a bespoke radiator cap designed by Ettore’s brother, Rembrandt Bugatti, depicting a rearing elephant—a symbol of the car’s grandeur.
In 1930, Bugatti repurposed unsold Royale engines for French railcars, creating some of the fastest trains of the era, known as Autorail Bugatti.
In 1932, textile magnate Armand Esders purchased a Royale. He requested it without headlights, claiming he never drove at night.
Ettore Bugatti hid two Royales in a barn at his Molsheim estate to prevent them from falling into enemy hands during the German occupation of France.
All six Royales built survive today, each worth tens of millions of pounds, making them some of the most valuable cars ever created.
In the 1950s, American Bugatti collector Briggs Cunningham acquired two Royales, helping to elevate the car’s legendary status.
The Bugatti Royale was a product of unbridled ambition and artistry, created during a turbulent time. Its rarity, audacity, and historical significance make it an enduring icon of automotive luxury.
Also known as the Type 41, the Bugatti Royale was designed and built for royalty when royalty disappeared all over Europe.
The King of Albania famously declined the car.
Bugatti sold not one of these six cars to a person with a royal title.
King Alfonso of Spain intended to buy one, which was as close as it got, but he died before that happened.
‘Ettore Bugatti refused to sell one to the King Zog of Albania due to his poor table manners.’
