Rare Car Archive

Makes › Bugatti · Car manufacturer · France France

Bugatti

Bugatti is a car make founded by Ettore Bugatti, who moved to Molsheim in Alsace in late 1909 and founded his factory there in 1910. The original company went bankrupt in 1956; after Volkswagen secured the name rights in 1998 the brand returned to Molsheim, and it is now part of Bugatti Rimac.1,2,3

Bugatti Bolide
Bugatti Bolide
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
90Cars documented
10Individual chassissee each car
1909Founded

Model lines

Rare versions grouped by model line. Open a line to see every version and rare factory colour by generation and model year.

Veyron 14 rare versions · 2007–2015

All Veyron versions →

Chiron 10 rare versions · 2016–2024

All Chiron versions →

Type 57 5 rare versions · 1934–1935

All Type 57 versions →

Other cars

Open a car to see its production figures, specifications and individual chassis.

Key facts

Founded
Late 1909 (Ettore Bugatti moved to Molsheim); factory founded 19101 Independently researched
Founder
Ettore Bugatti1 Independently researched
Headquarters
Molsheim, Alsace, France (Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.)1,3 Independently researched
Status
Original company went bankrupt in 1956; the brand was revived (Volkswagen acquired the name rights in 1998) and operates today3 Independently researched
Parent company
Bugatti Rimac (previously Rimac Group 55% / Porsche 45%); Porsche's stakes sold to a HOF Capital-led consortium, transaction completed per press release of 9 Sept 20264 Independently researched

History

In late 1909 Ettore Bugatti moved with his family from Cologne to Molsheim near Strasbourg, and in 1910 he founded his factory in a former dyeworks and began producing the Type 13. A modified Type 10, known as the Type 13, was entered in the 1911 French Grand Prix. The Type 35 won around 2,000 races by the early 1930s, and the company also built the Type 41 'Royale' luxury car. Ettore Bugatti worked in Molsheim until his death in 1947, and the company went bankrupt in 1956. Volkswagen secured the Bugatti name rights in 1998, the brand returned to Molsheim in 2005 when the Atelier opened for Veyron 16.4 production, and the Chiron has been assembled there since 2016.

1,2,3

Milestones

  1. 1910
    Ettore Bugatti founded his factory in a former dyeworks in Molsheim and began producing the Type 13.1
  2. 1925
    The Type 35 entered the Targa Florio for the first time; it won around 2,000 races by the early 1930s.2
  3. 1926
    The Type 41 Royale luxury car was produced between 1926 and 1933.1
  4. 1956
    The original Bugatti company went bankrupt.3
  5. 1998
    Volkswagen secured the name rights to Bugatti.3
  6. 2005
    Bugatti returned to Molsheim, where the Atelier opened in September 2005 for Veyron 16.4 production.3

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Alsace: home of Bugatti for 110 years Level A Bugatti Newsroom
    • In 1910 ... he founded his factory in a former dyeworks
    • Luxury cars such as the Type 41 Royal (1926-1933)
    • In late 1909, Ettore Bugatti and his family moved from Cologne to Molsheim
    • he founded his factory in a former dyeworks and began producing the Type 13
    • Today - Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., Molsheim, France
    • moved from Cologne to Molsheim near Strasbourg
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  2. 2
    The genius of Ettore Bugatti Level A Bugatti Newsroom
    • The Type 35 entered the Targa Florio race in Sicily ... in 1925
    • At the French Grand Prix of 1911, Bugatti entered a modified Type 10
    • Overall, the Type 35 won around 2,000 races by the early 1930s
    • Bugatti later built ... the Type 41 'Royale'.
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  3. 3
    Bugatti in the modern era: 15th anniversary of the Atelier in Molsheim Level A Bugatti Newsroom
    • until the company went bankrupt in 1956
    • When Volkswagen secured the name rights to Bugatti in 1998
    • Bugatti returned to its traditional location in Alsace in 2005.
    • It has been the home of Bugatti since 1909.
    • worked in Molsheim until his death in 1947; bankrupt in 1956 (locator)
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  4. 4
    Bugatti Rimac completes ownership transition, confirms new leadership team Level A Bugatti Newsroom
    • Rimac Group holding a 55% majority stake and Porsche holding the remaining 45%
    • a consortium led by HOF Capital, including BlueFive Capital as its largest investor
    • The transaction has now been completed.
    Accessed 2026-11-11

Beyond Bugatti · Keep exploring

France More from France

Rare cars by other makes from France – not by Bugatti.

70 other makes from FranceACMAAixamAlcatelAlpineAmilcarArzensAvions VoisinBACBallotBerlietBolloreBuccialiCGCharron, Girardot et VoigtChenard-WalckerCitroënClément-PanhardDAMSDarracqDBDB (Deutsch-Bonnet)De DietrichDe Dion-BoutonDe Dion, Bouton et TrépardouxDe La ChapelleDelageDelahayeDelaunay-BellevilleDerbyDSExagonFacel VegaFarmanFord FranceGentyGordiniHommellHopiumHotchkissJimenezAll makes →