The Bugatti EB110 - A Heartbreaking Failure

[@skilgour44]

I’m surprised that sabotage wasn’t mentioned. People who worked for Bugatti at the time consistently noticed that tasks they’d completed the day before would be undone the next day. Ferrari is also implicated in threatening component suppliers not to work with Bugatti so life was quite difficult for the company despite a quality product and celebrity endorsement (i.e. Schumacher).

[@the_bunse]

I also heard from more than one source that you could not buy an EB110 you had to be vetted by the owner and he would not sell to certain people, limiting the market.

[@jwalster9412]

We need to cancel Ferrari for this.

[@dimi911]

There is a video from Kidston on KZbin that refers to that.

[@sbsb4995]

You are spot on. Shitty Ferrari played dirty.

[@giacinto1966]

Its not ferrari ....its the fiat owners, the agnellis....a real scandalous family

[@markaustin6312]

I was lucky enough to be Sales Manager at the H.R. Owen Bugatti showroom in Cheval Place, Knightsbridge. 4EB pictured in the video was our demo car at the time. It was a great car to drive, very smooth and comfortable but it was a bit laggy and had very noisy wastegates which you either liked or not. No rear vision and you had to reverse it like a Countach (drivers door open and half sitting on the door sill). This wasn't easy and I did reverse it into a wall when my foot slipped off the clutch one time. If I remember correctly the GBP 285k price included lifetime warranty and service plan provided the car was serviced with us as per Bugatti schedule. The Supersport version was I think GBP 335k.

[@Iowa599]

A lifetime warranty? That would make the car cheap, after a life of repair expenses are considered!

[@johnforeman6620]

I think the purchase price also included any later modifications.

[@rwelsh938]

Jack Ive been out in one of these mate. My uncle was Production manager at lotus when Bugatti owned lotus. I blagged a vip tour including being scared to death in numerous cars this was one of them. Ace vid by the way Si from Bath

[@kenw1295]

The one and only time I saw one was at the Monaco GP in 92 in the Casino car park. In the flesh it looked amazing.

[@spunkbubble1]

I saw an EB110 a few years back, may even have been an SS (seen a few fantastic cars in the interim), it’s definitely pretty diminutive for something with such power …. The good old days before everything got lardy and needed 200bho to move. It was strange that it drew so few looks from people passing by. I suppose you could bizarrely think of it flying under the radar for many people as they don’t know what it is. I wouldn’t kick it out of the garage for farting.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

I remember the Burago model of this well! A sort of monumental car, not exactly pretty, but definitely not lacking presence!

[@paullacey2999]

Yes me too.I loved that model....👍

[@gabrielash75]

I had the privilege of seeing one of these in the flesh at the auto museum in Saratoga NY it was silver with a gray interior. It was sitting across from a Porsche 959 which was next to a Jaguar XJ220. It was a display of eighties and nineties sports cars . I asked the gentleman working the floor where is the F40. He said they have never had one on display.

[@lebojay]

I love the OG Team Associated RC10… that’s like the Audi Quattro of RC cars. It all changed after that. I remember seeing the blue factory entirely by accident. Cruising down the autostrada on holiday… oh, there’s Bugatti! Very good video, Jack. I learned a lot. Thank you.

[@surfrat9340]

Don't normally enjoy talking head videos, but you nailed it... Well done.

[@Number27]

Thank you!!

[@CharlesFlahertyB]

I saw one (silver) in the paddock at the 2002 Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca. It's spectacular in person

[@matthewmcree1992]

Personally I think the EB-110 is actually really beautiful, although I understand why people would think it looks a bit strange. The front has a truly 90s supercar look that still (IMO) looks very futuristic despite not having the crazy aggressive looks that we think supercars look like nowadays, and maybe that "civilized" look that it has is why I like it. It makes me think of the way that some high-speed trains look, and since I love high-speed trains, it just works for me. A shame that it failed :(

[@giorgiodelpalatinato6718]

Best explanation I've ever heard in regard to the failure of Bugatti 2.0! And the very first time I heard in a video that Bugatti was founded as a German company in Germany! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Ettore was Italian, made his decisive experiences when working for Deutz in Cologne, started his business in Germany and continued it in France. This is an early example for a really European company!

[@uleertel]

Small correction about the country owning the city of Molsheim. It was French until 1870. Then German until 1918, then French again, then occupied during ww2, and back to France after that. So it was not only French "after ww2". Considering Bugatti left the city during war it was in Germany the first 5 years.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Very interesting story Jack. I didn't look into Bugatti's history before. Looking forward to more of these.

[@Number27]

Thank you chap!! Really glad you enjoyed it!

[@paultasker7788]

I owned one of these. Only problem was I had to power it myself and only a lego man could fit in it. 1:16 scale. At the time I had several of these including Ferrari F40/F50 Lamborghini diablo, McLaren F1and Porsche 959, the Bugatti was easily my favourite. I thought I looked incredible in blue. Now it looks a bit dated though. Still like it though.

[@barrycuda3769]

In the early 70's I owned a ford p68' dfv 3 litre. I don't know where it is now' it just went missing.

[@nickhannaford3253]

That’s the Bugatti I’d have. 👍😎 I do like a underdog though….but they had me with quad turbos😂

[@jonclarke8255]

It was a schoolboys dream. I was at Goodwood in the early 90s and remember a supercar dealer turning up in one. He let me sit in it and at 6ft 5” I can confirm they’re really cramped. Obviously this was the reason I never owned one! Great video Jack.

[@asensibleyoungman2978]

You just wanted to tell us all you're 6'5" didn't you?

[@gaetanoflorio6277]

Hi Jack, I was at the inaugural launch in Sydney Australia and remember the evening very well. It was pouring rain and the humidity was very high and the one thing that made me ponder how a car of its value had foggy tail lights. Not a good look for a half million dollar car on the night, but in saying so, it was an amazing car to look at and sit in. Thanks for the great video. Keep up the great content 👍

[@nicholass3964]

I was there too and remember the foggy tail lights. I think the 110 in Australia may have suffered from its association with a Car Dealer Empire on Parramatta Road that was perhaps unwisely bailing out standover men and had ex-employees arrested in Bangkok trafficing in illegal contraband as I remember

[@gaetanoflorio6277]

@@nicholass3964 Rick Damelian was thebdealer at the time. One of Sydney's biggest distributor of automobiles. Amazing when that incident occurred, they dissapeared very quickly. Still was a night to remember.

[@jongmans38]

It looked like a kit car, not an exotica sports car!

[@jibbyjabby7499]

One of my all time favourites. Incredible car.

[@caterhamsuperlightr81]

I saw my one and only EB110 parked up in a Nice back street when staying there for the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix. Couldn’t believe my eyes! Just left there in the dark like a large blue Renault Laguna!

[@organiccold]

Thank you for the cool story Jack. Me too love both cars :) i had a passion for the EB110 when it come out

[@Number27]

Thank you chap!

[@johnforeman6620]

I used to be in the Bugatti Owners Club (one did not actually have to own a Bugatti to be in it) and because of that had a very impressive invitation to the launch, I think in Paris. Unfortunately I was working abroad at the time and could not go. I did keep the invitation that is in a draw somewhere.

[@eze8970]

EB110 had questionable looks, & in a strange middle ground - those with more cash would go for the more expensive cars, those with less the Ferraris & Lamborghinis, which would have similar performance, & known names. I remember an EB110 going up the Goodwood Hill, the passenger had his feet on the dashboard, I was horrified! Thanks Jack!🙏

[@Number27]

Thanks for watching dude!!

[@Bettaos]

Brilliant analysis. Thank you. I recently enjoyed some video of the EB110 on the Davide Cironi's Channel. I like this car so much, even if had not the success it deserved.

[@kougerat5388]

I'm going to have to replay this one (audio only next time) I was constantly distracted by the Tamiya cars especially the Scorcher! 😉

[@Cayres9]

Also i just got a shock the McLaren F1 LM version could hit 60mph in 2.9 seconds , thats as fast as a Tesla Model S back in 1995 crazy for that era

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

Thought for a moment you had an EB110 to road test... Thought you'd hit the big leagues lol. Great chat though, love your work

[@blarkdexture8899]

F1 still looks like a new design. Can’t say that about the Bugatti.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

The F1 is still pretty, in a timeless way, but the general curviness of the design definitely places it firmly in its timeframe. Manufacturers design languages feature more sharp lines now.

[@BruceKent00]

The F1 looks like crap

[@Squidgy55]

@@BruceKent00 It really doesn't.

[@tumslucks9781]

@@Squidgy55 The F1 hasn't aged at all. The only flaw in the design are the bug eyed headlamps. Most supercars are overstyled so they age badly. The F1 was aesthetically restrained but still looks like a contemporary supercar. Gordon Murray is a genius.

[@Squidgy55]

@@tumslucks9781 I agree.

[@paulstrapps]

Great video, thanks for sharing the story. The EB110 passed me by at the time, great to find out more. I know a slightly off channel topic but a video talking about those radio control cars would be great too. I remember having a Tamiya Rough Rider as a kid, which was basically the Sand Scorcher (on the right behind you) with a different body I believe.

[@Number27]

Cheers Si! Interesting you’ve actually been in one!

[@dedeoglu1923]

The car I had on posters on my walls as a teenager. Not to mention the 1:24 Bburago in blue :)

[@MrJdubbya36]

Got to go on a tour of the old factory with a group while on a car stuff tour in the early 2000's. It was sad but still fun to see. There were still parts there, still plans laying around. Still tooling and other stuff. AND....they had the last car they had just finished putting together, I think it was an SS. I think it was what B engineering or something by then, former employees just finishing up what they had left.

[@Number27]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@christopherkelly577]

Can recall the craziness of it being quad turbod and them being in deep financial trouble. What a time. The F40, this...the F1.

[@paulallen8109]

The F1 was the only one of them which pushed the envelope from a technological point of view, which *proved its worth* both by winning the 24 Hours of LeMans at the first attempt (which has only happened once before in the 99 years of that race) and proving a totally accurate 387k/h (240mph) on the VW test track. The EB110 however was ahead of the time in actually being a practically useable supercar as it was civilized and didn't require a professional racing driver to be fully utilized. Ferrari's own test driver said that almost all owners of the F40 only utilized 30% of its potential and that was simply due to the fact it's basically a racing car with a license plate. Even Schumacher said that it requires a lot from a driver and that it's actually irresponsible to offer it to non-pros.

[@bobmcl2406]

Might just be me, but all the modern Bugattis (including the EB110) come across as unnecessarily heavy and complex. My view of Ettore Bugatti's sports and racing cars was quite the opposite. Anyway, I enjoyed this video, and thanks for reminding me of that era.

[@russellhammond4373]

Thanks Jack. Brilliant summary.

[@simonelliott5956]

Interesting video Jack! I’ve always loved the EB110, it seemed a bit of a quirky shape, having been born of multiple designers, including Gandini, Benadini and Stanzani, fuelled by Artioli’s insistence on making changes. Nevertheless the shape, whilst not beautiful was purposeful and some how hasn’t aged as much as some of its contemporaries.

[@Number27]

Hey Simon.. apart from the back I actually rather like it!

[@simonelliott5956]

@@Number27 The rear lights remind me of the Lancia Beta Coupe’s back lights, the rear is definitely the weakest angle.

[@leebuckles2364]

Another good history lesson jack well done enjoying them very much

[@Number27]

Glad you enjoyed it Lee, thanks for watching!

[@simodthebod4256]

Love these series of videos Jack. Awesome vid👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@Cydney1066]

Saw one at a dealership in West Palm Beach back in the day. I thought it looked "dumpy". That being said it was gone 2 days later. Never did see it on the street though. Thanks for the presentation keep up the good work👍

[@lebojay]

It probably hasn’t driven a mile since you saw it. Sad.

[@Number27]

Thank you buddy!!

[@martinhogg5337]

Great talk! Lots of interesting points made. Timing and looks were as you say the likely problems with this car. It lacked the sleekness of the Jaguar 220, the ground breaking attributes of the McLaren or even the beauty of a Ferrari. Just a bit dull from what I have seen. Perhaps it looks better in the flesh! A real pity it failed.

[@godwindracing6056]

The XJ220 took years to sell, there was a failed lawsuit by disgruntled customers who wanted their deposits back

[@tumslucks9781]

@@Beauloqs The rear three quarter aspect was fine. Head one it looked like a squashed bug.

[@alanstonelake2673]

Great vid Jack. Always wondered what this car was like and now I know.

[@thethirdman225]

Gordon Murray working from the Colin Chapman principle that, while a powerful engine makes you faster on the straights, light weight makes you faster everywhere.

[@davidperkins605]

Really enjoyed watching and learning about cars, 👍

[@964tractorboy]

I don't think anybody has mentioned the classic video from 2003: Martin Brundle's Supercars. Just search for it. It has the EB110, Enzo, F40, XJ220 and more, driven both on the road and round Oulton Park. Unmissable even today. Martin spoke of the McLaren costing more at £640k, but who's counting? The only car missing was the 959.

[@huwprice881]

Thank you Jack! I’m supposed to be cooking supper, but no one’s noticed I’m watching this. I was never a fan of the EB110, I think it was the crossed eyed and boxy styling, but it was a technological tour de force (redolent of the Porsche 959 maybe?) and I really enjoyed the video. It’s interesting too that this and so many other cars of the time weren’t successful, at least initially, the Jag XJ220, McLaren F1 spring to mind, but that nowadays it seems that despite similar political and economic outlooks, and the fall of the Oligarchs, there is still a massive and apparently inexhaustible market for hugely expensive cars with big numbers, but no heritage (Hennessy Venom F5, I’m looking at you!). Thanks again, best wishes, Huw.

[@Number27]

That’s for watching and for your comments Huw!! As you say many other cars failed to sell at this time.. the economy being the way it was!

[@philippruest5577]

EB110 was rather eclipsed on track by XJ220 and the even quicker 5 year old F40. Direct comparison test by ... Michael Schumacher! Diablo and a 381 hp 911 turbo were the slowest.

[@sureshot8399]

You said "Nuremburgring" in one of your other videos too, but as we all know, the Nurburgring is a road circuit but Nuremburg is for rallies.

[@mrd4335]

Hi Jack, Hope your doing good 👍. Be interesting to have a vid on the 16 cylinder Chezeta ....think the spelling is right, may be in future 🤔. Nice one followed the ch long time now and always like it, you have always take time to respond. And content always interesting.👍

[@Number27]

That’s in the works chap!! Another incredible story!

[@ManinaGarage]

Awesome car, awesome video Jack! Thank you 🙌

[@Number27]

Thank you for watching buddy!

[@henryleroux8768]

FROM SOUTH AFRICA --- I ENJOYED THIS ONE !

[@mach1mustangguy992]

Always loved this car. Had a poster of a silver one on my wall

[@Michael_Lorenson]

I remember thinking the EB110 was astonishingly heavy and complex, and absurdly expensive. Turbos were super-laggy in those days, so everyone really wanted normally aspirated engines, which were becoming more efficient, larger, and more powerful every year, thanks to digital engine management. In the face of that, here was a car with _four_ turbos! And, if it was so sophisticated and made of all these wonderful, lightweight materials, why was it so bloody heavy? Just to put the knife in for the kill, it was hopelessly, irredeemably ugly to my eye. It looked huge in pictures, and didn't give me the slightest impression that it was a fun-loving kind of sports car. Super-fast, for sure, but mostly just obscene. Then the McLaren F1 appeared, and it was just so _right_ in every way. I never gave Bugatti another thought, after that.

[@jwalster9412]

Tell me your a Ferrari fan without telling me you a Ferrari fan.

[@Michael_Lorenson]

@@jwalster9412 I don't get it. You think what I said about the EB110 guarantees that I'm a "Ferrari fan"? Hate to disappoint you, but I don't really care about Ferrari.

[@tumslucks9781]

The engine displacement was only 3.5 litres. Something to do American emissions regulations. It needed four turbos to bring power output to a reasonable level but this meant the engine sounded dreadful. It sounded more like a Fiat than a V12. That was the EB110s only real flaw. Being released in the middle of a recession didn't help either.

[@kirisgarage8590]

Favourite kind of videos 👍from longtime I’ve been working out why today the McLaren f1 is 20 times more expensive than the EB110 but never got the right answer ….. I think the Bugatti deserves much more because even how you said .. it’s entirely made in the factory ( we not going to mention the F1 side mirrors from Corrado and E36 indicator switch ) 👍

[@zekvuc6552]

1. 3 people in mclaren f1 is 50 per cent more 2. no turbos just pure power 3. winner at 24h lemans destroying all racing develop cars 4. central seat like formula 1 pure feeling 5. 391 km/h top speed 6. ... etc ...

[@k-mc94]

@@zekvuc6552 All good points, the fact it beat not only the other cars in its class but also the prototypes at Lemans 1995, i dont think this has ever been done since.

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420]

The McLaren F1 sold 103 cars over a period of six years. If all of these customers had bought EB110s instead it would have made no difference to the Bugatti's fate.

[@johncharleson8733]

No; it's wasn't about total sales, but the comparative vision of what the new hot car should be and how it should look. I remember when that EB110 first appeared--boring, especially with that 'optional' blue colour. The friggn' thing looks like an EV. If the car didn't have an exciting looking competitor (however small in numbers), if the field remained the roughly the same, which it didn't, that boxy looking blue bird may have swayed enough numbers-type guys to open the door for future sales. Bottom line, that car was more of an engineer's wet dream than an exciting piece of rolling art. Boring.

[@Number27]

As John says below it’s not about total sales.. it’s about the vision of what a Supercar should have been. This should have been the halo Supercar by Bugatti but being completely overshadowed by the F1 meant it became a much harder sell.. it’s not just that the F1 would have taken sales away directly it’s also that this who might have bought it just because it was the best Supercar in the world would no longer have done so.

[@elba9066]

@@Number27 Yes: "who might have bought it just because it was the best Supercar in the world would no longer have done so." And therefore turned to the other makes you mentioned

[@robertvanzant2653]

When I was a kid I remember seeing Michael Schumacher driving his EB110 I think I was yellow. Out of this world compared to my dads Nissan bluebird 1.8l SLX !

[@jankundert4353]

Jack, thanks for the video. However, correction is needed in regard of the commercial success of the F1 compared to the EB110. Overall, there were only 106 McLaren F1s produced, ever. Thereof 78 road-going and 28 FIA race cars. Besides that there were 6 prototypes. On the other hand there were 96 EB110 GT and 32 EB110 SS produced. After its bankruptcy, Jochen Dauer acquired all the parts and tools of the company and build another 6 or 7 EB110 SS „Dauer“. It‘s pretty known that the failure was mainly driven by unfair competitive behavior of its main rivals, pressure on suppliers, sabotage and the like and only partially by unadapted economic steering. It‘s really a pity the car didn’t get more appreciation for a long time. It‘s only 2 or 3yrs ago, when Bugatti „accepted“ the EB 110 as a true Bugatti in their heritage, leading to the values skyrocketing. Before, EB110s could be acquired for around EUR 300k, whilst they go for up to 2m nowadays.

[@MarcoMenozziPro]

The direct legacy of Ettore Bugatti is Maserati. Bugatti had a strong partnership with Diatto, the Turin-based company of which Alfieri Maserati was team manager. The first Maserati cars were Bugatti.

[@edwri9759]

Hello Jack, thanks for this video, always loved the EB110. I use to enjoy racing RC buggies, what models are the 2 behind you on the left?

[@Number27]

RC10 and PB Maxima!

[@HotTakeHQ]

@@Number27 same! ❤

[@mattandrews1317]

Another great video Jack!

[@Number27]

Thank you Matt!

[@steffydog]

Facinating thanks Jack.

[@jameslovell863]

Off topic but cant help notice the gold pan rc10 and pb maxima in the background. There is a national vintage rc meeting this coming weekend at Broxtowe club Nottingham that might be of interest.

[@Number27]

Ah thanks James.. I’ll look into it but don’t think I can make it

[@jameslovell863]

@@Number27 Iconic rc on face book.

[@godwindracing6056]

The biggest reason why it failed was its lack of dealer/distributor network and Artoli’s arrogance. According to Autocar, circa April 1992, in order to buy one, Artoli expected people to make a phone call to his office in Italy. He was against the idea of having distributor network

[@EnricoGregoratto]

Love these videos Jack - always learning something new!

[@Number27]

Grazie Enrico!! Saluti dall’Ingilterra!

[@lasskinn474]

I've always liked the look of eb110. it's so 90s

[@enigmatwist6548]

It’s not a gorgeous car but like the F1 it’s got a stumpy aesthetic that has its own appeal. I dig it.

[@JakeM218]

Crazy to think VW have sold Bugatti to Rimac! Next models have been confirmed to be hybrid. Mixture of the best combustion engines with what’s viewed as one of the top players in the electric powertrain game.

[@TheChill001]

they haven't actually sold it btw, it's now a co-operative, in order to lower the costs of production and to be able to tap into Rimac's expertise.

[@djdrastic1]

The SS version looks the business.

[@VoloKinProject]

I think the main factors are the recession and the fact that there weren't that many millionaire car guys at the time. I like it a lot btw.

[@paulallen8109]

The recession is THE fact. It didn't only affect Bugatti. Jaguar had to sell many XJ220 at discount prices and to all kinds of half-shady finance groups. Yamaha cancelled their planned OX99 supercar (which actually used a detuned version of the company's Formula 1 V12 engine). McLaren barely sold 70 cars and Gordon Murray was forced to develop the GTR racing version (despite originally saying he'd never develop a racing variant) too boost sales to over 100. Lamborghini was in such dire straits Chrysler sold them to Malaysia's Megatech corporation - which btw was owned by the son of Malaysia's infamous dictator Suharto. Heck Ferrari were still selling the old Testarossa in 1994 (albeit slightly modified) which was 10 years old and totally outdated, its chassis being based on the even older 365GT4/BB which had been designed back in 1971. Another factor was that the "exciting new markets" such as Russia, the emerging Asian economies and China didn't yet exist as important markets. They do today. Koenigsegg for instance reveals than more than half of all their manufactured cars are allocated to SouthEast Asia. Without that market they'd probably wouldn't have stayed in business.

[@VoloKinProject]

@@paulallen8109 interesting insite, thank you.

[@BubuBarong]

Bravo Jack, bel video! Avevi guardato l'intervista di Davide Cironi ad Artioli? Un abbraccio, keep up the good work!

[@Number27]

Certo!! Davide é bravissimo è quella serie di video in particolare sono fantastici! Saluti!

[@ryanmccormick2150]

Loved that Jack 👍

[@Number27]

Thanks old boy!

[@BennysBenz]

A couple of things at first I thought you got a EB1 which led me to think how does he do it! I know so many collectors etc. and I've never seen one in the flesh. Secondly I've never liked the styling I think that took alot of the desirability away for the car the buzz for the McLaren was crazy whereas I remember the EB1 wasn't the same. I know Gandini had a hand in the design but I'm partial to Pinafarina's design lines i wonder how the car lines would be with a Pinafarina design 🤔 🤷‍♂️

[@timothylanders3189]

Tbo, I was enthralled with this EB as I listened. Then, as soon as you explained the ins & outs of the F1. For me, it just killed any desire to further read into the EB hands down! Just being honest & I love all these Supercars. They're all insane..

[@Kellsboro]

A US market compliant EB 110 was in the works and dealers appointed, but the company collapsed before that was completed. Had Bugatti accessed the market a considerable lifeline would've been thrown. I recall an EB 110 America (used for the US dealer tour) unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show with incredible promise.

[@TheChill001]

I actually think that would've been a waste though. The US market in particular is known as sensation buyers, given the timing of the launch and by the time it would actually be available in the US, the F1 would and had already taken the headlines and removed the sensational part of the bugatti. This in turn would make the investment in the US a rather expensive and wasteful affair. It's why there's actually so many brands not available in the US, because though it has the potential for great success and profit, it has an equal, if not much greater potential for expensive and costly failures, not in a small part due to the volatility of the US market, but also the fact that in the end...americans don't have a great feel for sportscars (and can generally be attributed for many good sportsbrands and sportscars ending up as doughy, fat and heavy shadows of their former selves.)

[@ducsauce]

❤️ the Gold pan and PB Maxima!

[@jonfrank2566]

My father had an EB110. Drove pretty much the last one out of the factory as the administrators were driving in. He was fortunate to have had a few supercars in his time. He never really rated the Bugatti. He drove his cars hard but found it a bit soulless. Different cars float different people's boats, but he moved it on after about a year. I remember the outside styling was OK ( it certainly garnered attention ) but the interior was very poor and, as mentioned, luggage space was non-existant. That said, I think the reason they failed was more to do with the market at the time. The F1, 220 and many others all struggled as the market for supercars pretty much collapsed. Probably a foretaste of things to come....

[@Number27]

Thanks Jon and great to hear from someone with direct experience of these cars! Not surprised the interior wasn’t great.. but you have to compare to other supercars of the time which were just as bad!

[@godwindracing6056]

Was this true that he would make a phone call to Italy to order one, according to an article in Autocar, circa April 1992

[@bugattieb110ss]

You could have finished off the video with an epilogue about Dauer and the Edonis which both used EB110 chassis from the bankruptcy sale. I believe Dauer built 6 cars with all carbon fibre bodywork and c700bhp.

[@jonathangalloway6796]

Excellent video

[@nickblacksoul4318]

Well I remember i didn't really want it in my collection because it was kinda funny didn't look slick like a xj220 a bit agly , but I think it most failed because it was kinda unknown car you never heard about it, no one talked about it ,it didn't feature in any came and not in many magazines and didn't get evolutions like the Lamborghini

[@k-mc94]

You said this had the first production carbon fibre chassis, i think the Jaguar Sport XJR15 got there first.

[@stephen_graham]

Is that an Team Associated rc10 behind you? You should do a video on your RC car collection

[@the5th2000]

Look up the B Engineering Edonis..... reengineered EB110 with higher output and RWD, still in production....

[@dadcars]

Really enjoyed this 👏 I always thought it looked like an Aldi Diablo 🤓 I’m sure it’s a super cool car though

[@shabbos-goy9407]

Great essay Jack

[@timgosling6189]

Comparing weight with the Diablo, remember the 110 was also 4-wheel drive. And original Bugattis were actually renowned for their lightness; it was EB who called the LM Bentleys 'the fastest lorries in the world'! The XJ220 was expensive in terms of list price, but of course there was the whole financial crisis going on which left customers taking them to court because the car wasn't the 4WD V12 they'd ordered, or because they no longer had the money, or both. I don't have stats on actual prices paid but Jag was eventually shoving them out the door for under £130k, a 75% discount. I looked over the EB110 when it first appeared at the British Motor Show and in that iconic french blue it was a fine looking thing, although the wooden dash looked a bit incongruous. It was a shame it didn't do well but I think you're absolutely right: it was just bad timing. The world was in meltdown and to sell 130 odd was actually quite an achievement; McLaren as you say made only 106 F1s and Jaguar took 6 years to shift all 275 XJ220s, losing a shed-load doing it. But overall I'm with you, Gordon's approach with the F1 has to be the better one: a rapier rather than a behemoth.

[@godwindracing6056]

The XJ220’s retail price was around £350k, the £150k as claimed was for the few unsold cars in 1997

[@timgosling6189]

@@godwindracing6056 The stated retail price was index linked and peaked at £475k.

[@filiannuzzi5871]

Really enjoyed that. Thanks ;)

[@catscanswim6805]

Ettore once called Bentleys the fastest trucks in the world, which makes me wonder what he'd think of the EB110.

[@catscanswim6805]

Said EB110, obviously meant Veyron/Chiron. D'oh.

[@aussiebloke609]

To me, the EB110, and the more recent Veyron and Chiron models, feel like the successors to the Porsche 959 (and so, doubly fitting that they are under the VAG umbrella nowdays.) A super-sportscar, with turbos, AWD, active suspension, computer modules galore, A technological tour de force, fast without fuss...but in some ways, thought of as soulless, passionless, with the driver too many steps removed from the mechanicals. And the F1was anything but...a raw, driver-focused machine with the absolute minimum of technology getting in the way of the driver and their trouser seat. And while the tech is probably better for the average driver, so many of us still dream of being Fangio in a previous life. 🙂

[@sainta2667]

Always loved the EB110 ; So beautiful , so special - Looks so much better the current 'Super cars '. Hands down over the F1.

[@user-cv8ud8qo9f]

A supercar should be bedroom wall poster worthy ... the EB110 just looked clonky with the whiff of kit-car about it's looks and who's going to pay that much for a supercar that's been hit with the ugly stick?

[@standingbadger]

Still my favourite Bugatti today.

[@superseven7947]

I think I once read that during testing the melted they manifolds on it!!

[@jameslatimer1432]

Cool vid 😎 👌

[@grantbattle4911]

It's crazy how the veyron done well but this in its day was in my eyes way better an I would choose one over a veyron anyday but on the hole glad to see the brand still around

[@christophecamus3295]

Great video,very good 👍 👏

[@Number27]

Thank you Christophe!

[@sbsb4995]

Hold on there . McLaren was not the reason of the fall of the bugati. McLaren sold just 64 cars while bugati sold way over 100 cars. It was a big big success over the McLaren. The economy killed this car.

[@jdesmo1]

110 always was my favorite supercar, and the story of it's creation is still amazing on so many levels. Certainly the EB110 is so much better than modern VW version. The F1 is amazing, but everyone is drawn to it like drunken flock of sheep.

[@tumslucks9781]

Quite the contrarian aren't you? What do you drive, a unicorn?!

[@sammygirlie345]

Class video as always

[@Number27]

Thank you Sam!!

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

Another fascinating video.

[@Number27]

Thanks old boy!

[@davec1942]

I'd say the EB110 is engineered to a point, then finished off, the interior, body and weight all scream "can't be bothered" after the hours and hours poured into designing the engine. The F1 on the other hand is engineering perfection, from bumper to bumper. If you could afford a EB110 at launch, you could afford an F1, F40, XJ220, 959, which very few people are able to find fault with. Thanks Jack, keep em' coming.

[@enigmatwist6548]

I personally think the EB110 has a nicer interior than all those cars you mentioned. Jag was lovely but had many faults not least it’s size. The 959 isn’t as exciting as many people expect and the driving experience isn’t that dissimilar from other far more mundane Porsches (for the most part). The F40 is incredibly basic inside and is more of a track car than anything else. Yeah F1, I’ve got nothing except the insane valuations. The SS EB110 is especially nice and had ironed out many of the kinks of the original car but I’d still rather have an F1. However I’d choose an EB110 SS over the others.

[@joaomonteiro1258]

Jack, you must purchase your first electric car soon (second hand) and help us in the transition. I already have a Prius Plug In and love it, astonishing car. Next (for the wife) it will be a full electric second hand and I am counting on you mate for help ;) Cheers!

[@garrygooderham9005]

What is the red rc buggy in the background? I keep being distracted by it

[@Number27]

PB Maxima! Very rare old racing buggy