Taking pride in perfection: discovering the story of the first officially certified and uniquely authentic Bugatti EB110 America

It is a mission that Bugatti’s La Maison Pur Sang vehicle authentication program, established in 2020, was created to pursue in earnest. One that is critical to providing the brand’s customers with the comprehensive vehicle-lifetime record that they seek, ensuring the value of their prized vehicle is not just preserved, but deservedly grows as its story continues.

Now, the marque’s specialist teams have meticulously traced the authenticity of an exceptionally rare example of a Bugatti icon: the EB110 America.

The complete tale of chassis SS025 was lovingly collated in a process charting its full lifespan. Order records, assembly change logs, transmission servicing documents, road test certificates – a plethora of documents and resources are pored over by Bugatti’s experts, trained and adept in the art of authenticating each part, service, and assessment the vehicle has undergone through its life. All in the pursuit of delivering a rich, exciting, and immersive journey of discovery for its owner, helping them to deep dive into each facet of its story.

Immersion in the hidden history of the car is a deeply emotional experience for the vehicle owner. Revealing undiscovered details and forgotten stories, each project sees them and Bugatti’s experts embark on a personal journey, shining a light on the unique character of every iconic model.

In this process, exacting assessment criteria and attention to detail are employed in the pursuit of validating the vehicle’s authenticity – inviting the customer to bring the vehicle to its spiritual home in Molsheim, for the marque’s specialists to conduct a fastidious appraisal.

And in the case of SS025, the marque’s specialists and the car’s owner together witness a picture being lovingly drawn, of a vehicle true to Bugatti’s exacting specifications for the EB110 America. With complete originality across the chassis, bodywork, powertrain, mechanical components, and cockpit, it is a picture representing a badge of honor and source of immense pride for the rare example’s current owner.

As Bugatti’s archival records were attentively studied with the customer, and parts closely inspected through the course of the project, a rich history of passionate collectors, magazine features, television show appearances and prestigious concours and luxury automotive gatherings came to punctuate the car’s story.

Produced as a development vehicle for the model, EB110 America SS025 represented a blend of the EB110 GT and EB110 SS – combining both long-distance comfort and exceptional performance. After leaving the Bugatti factory in Campogalliano, Italy, the vehicle was transported to North America to serve as a demonstrator. It had already adorned the front cover of Robb Report, earned the People’s Choice Award at the Concorso Italiano in the US, and was featured at the Chicago Auto Show in early 1995. Later it participated in the Trieste Opicina Historic before it was acquired by its first independent owner – Italian entrepreneur and the driving force behind Bugatti’s 1990s revival Romano Artioli – in 2000.

Carefully storing the vehicle in France before subjecting it to a comprehensive service in Campogalliano, Italy, Romano elected to transform the exterior from its original Grigio Chiaro paintwork in 2007, to a quintessentially Bugatti hue: Bugatti Blu. Piquing the interest of the UK collector who would become the second owner in 2013, the vehicle’s captivating colorway proved to be an inspiring choice. Its mesmerizing appearance went on to earn the attention of automotive enthusiasts around the world, from gracing the lawns of the prestigious Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace in the UK, to the front cover of Octane magazine, while earning the spotlight in Jeremy Clarkson’s feature on The Grand Tour, charting the story of the 1990s’ finest supercars.

As history and heritage have continued to form an integral part of the Maison Pur Sang philosophy, so those principles came to define key moments in SS025’s story. Upon the beginning its journey with its third custodian, Stefano Martinoli, the car proved the focal point for a poignant meeting between Stefano and Romano Artioli – reuniting men with machine, reminiscing over their shared passion for a masterpiece of roadgoing engineering.

And in another symbolic moment in its story, SS025 came face to face with the unique vehicle itself inspired by the EB110: the striking Bugatti Centodieci². Photographed side by side at the doors of the Château Saint-Jean, both vehicles stood proud as icons of their era, united at Bugatti’s spiritual home in a showcase of automotive excellence.