The Bugatti type 41 Royale 'Roadster' was designed and
styled in 1932 by Jean Bugatti, the very promising son
of the great Ettore.
Tragically, Jean Bugatti (pictured
left) was killed in 1939 in a car accident while testing
one of the factory cars around Molsheim.
By 1932 Bugatti were already famous for making the best
sports cars in the world, however the Royale has become
one of the most memorable sports-luxury cars in history!
The name Royale was given to help the car appeal to the
rich and famous, and amoung the few that could afford
to buy the car was King Alphonso XIII of Spain.
Unquestionably the "Granddest" car ever made - weighing
in excess of 3 tons and powered by a 13-liter straight-8
engine which derived from an aeroplane (the engine
being so strong that it was later converted for train
use).
Excluding the prototype, only 5 Royales were made between
1926 and 32. One of which broke the world record by changing
hands at US$9.8 million in 1987, which was only eclipsed
by Ferrari 250GTO later.