Bugatti Chiron 'Type 55' Super Sport

Jean Bugatti, known for his visionary designs and engineering prowess, left a lasting impact on the automotive world. His work on the Type 55 exemplifies his unique approach to car design, combining technical skill with aesthetic excellence. The Type 55 Super Sport, equipped with a 2.3-liter straight-eight engine derived from the Type 51 racer, featured a two-seater roadster body designed by Jean Bugatti. This model marked the beginning of Bugatti's Super Sport category, blending comfort with a top speed of 180 km/h, setting the standard for future models.

Jean Bugatti's introduction of the duotone paint scheme on the Type 55 was groundbreaking, influencing Bugatti's iconic contemporary color designs. The most admired Type 55 model features a black and yellow color scheme. Only 38 units of the Type 55 Super Sport were made, making it a highly sought-after collector's item.

The original Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport featured a 2.3-liter straight-eight engine taken from the Type 51 race car and dropped into a two-seat roadster body designed by Ettore Bugatti's son, Jean Bugatti. As Bugatti's first Super Sport, it served as a blueprint for modern Super Sport models, blending comfort with a top speed of 180 km/h.

Jean Bugatti also introduced the duotone paint scheme, as seen in many of Bugatti's contemporary designs. The black and yellow Type 55 is especially admired– with only 38 Type 55s ever produced, it is a rare and coveted collector's item.

A Chiron Super Sport customer, in collaboration with Bugatti's Sur Mesure team, commissioned a tribute to the Jean Bugatti creation. Jascha Straub, Manager of Sur Mesure, emphasized the enduring influence of Jean's work. Straub worked with the customer and Bugatti's partner in Dubai to infuse elements of the Type 55 into a contemporary Chiron Super Sport.

They focused on the duotone paint scheme, using black and yellow to add dynamism and break up the car's surfaces. The design includes a black centerline and a grille with a black line around the central air intake, complemented by a yellow line from the rear to the fenders.

The '55 1 of 1' commission also features black 10-spoke wheels with a yellow 'EB' emblem and '55 1 of 1' in cursive on the rear wing. The interior, reflecting the Type 55's influence, includes black leather and unique accents like embroidered headrests and a hand-stitched fading '55' motif in yellow on the door panels. Jean Bugatti's signature appears on the door sill and dedication plate, connecting the driver to Bugatti's heritage.

This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.

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