Bugatti, known for the impeccable performance and masterful craftsmanship of its vehicles, has seemingly surpassed even its own standards in its latest build, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era.’ The automaker has described the one-of-one vehicle as one of the most challenging bespoke projects it has ever undertaken.
Having taken over two years to craft, the Golden Era first began as a vision from a Bugatti collector with a profound respect for the brand’s history and the technical marvel of the W16 engine. Achim Anscheidt, Bugatti’s former Design Director explained that “A very important customer…wanted to do something truly unique in celebration,” [of the brand and engine]. As the process continued, the vehicle would become an aesthetic journey through Bugatti’s legacy, aptly named ‘Golden Era’, as it portrays 45 hand-drawn sketches of the brand’s icons directly on the exterior and interior of the car.
The passenger side of the car’s exterior expresses Bugatti’s illustrious past with 26 sketches that depict legendary models like the Type 41 Royale, recognized as the pinnacle of luxury in 1926, and the Type 57 SC Atlantic, often celebrated as the pinnacle of automotive beauty. Equally, the driver’s side celebrates Bugatti’s modern rebirth, showcasing 19 sketches from the iconic EB110 to the Chiron.
Highlighting the extraordinary challenge of this venture, Anscheidt explained, “We had to find a process that would allow us to use pencils and do all of the sketches by hand, directly onto the paintwork.” Following 400 hours of work, the results revealed a breathtaking exterior artwork, unlike anything Bugatti or any manufacturer has presented before.
The exquisitely illustrated narrative is also brought into the cabin, with icons from Bugatti’s past and present expressed directly on the leather of both the passenger and driver side doors — with texts highlighting the years “1909 – 1956” and “1987 – 2023” on their respective door sills. Other details found in the cabin include the text “Golden Era” stitched into the headrests and “One-of-One” applied to a carbon fiber panel at the base of the control console.
Bugatti Managing Director, Hendrik Malinowski, encapsulates the essence of this creation, stating “Sur Mesure literally translates as tailored… Each step, every decision and – in the case of the Golden Era – every stroke of the pencil, was completed with the close oversight and input of the owner to exceed his expectations in a way that no other brand is able to do.”
A representation of era-defining moments in Bugatti’s history, the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ is unparalleled in its ambition and execution. While most one-of-ones built to this degree of specification tend to end up in private collections, never to meet the public eye, the ‘Golden Era’ is in fact set to make a grand appearance at the upcoming Monterey Car Week.
While you wait for that, take a cinematic look at the Golden Era in the video below.
In other automotive news, a 1966 Porsche 906 with an extensive racing history is up for auction.
