In Retrospect (1st of two parts)
The changing of the year does bring nostalgia. For this post I am going to provide a timeline of our beloved Bugatti – its rise, eventual decline, resurrection and everything in between.
September 15, 1881 –Bugatti founder Ettore Bugatti was born. The Ettore’s father was an important Art Nouveau furniture and jewelry designer. His grandfather was an architect and sculptor. Despite his artistic background, Ettore decided that he would be more successful as an engineer. However, Ettore’s artistic background would eventually manifest in his creations the Bugatti cars.
1899 – Ettore finally got financial backing after being recognized winning races with the car he designed. He was 19 when he produced his first car which is quite an accomplishment. Ettore’s name and sensational design spread all over Europe. Consequently, our fiery genius was flooded with offers. As early as then Ettore was already considered ahead of his time.
1909 – Ettore acquired a huge piece of land in Molsheim, Alsace that later be the Bugatti factory. It was here where Ettore started his pet project, a small, four cylinder, 660 pound racer – the Model 10.
1911 – The racer Ettore designed appeared at Le Mans (French Grand Prix) and looked like a dwarf compared to the other “heavyweights.” The car competed with the likes of Fiat, Dietrich, and Excelsior. Ettore’s car finished second affirming the mastery behind the design. The year also saw the production of the Bebe Peugeot Bugatti Model19 engine. The Model 19 was installed in thousands of automobiles
1914 – War is coming. Ettore fled to Italy with his family. But before the exodus, Ettore managed to bury three of his racing cars under the cellar of his house.
During the war Bugatti, together with Rolls Royce and Mercedes, designed planes for the Allied Forces. Licensing fees from the venture funded the re-opening of the Molshiem factory. It is also said that Bugatti influenced the introduction of straight-eight engine in America six months after the war.
The post-war Bugatti history will be concluded after the holidays. Please enjoy. And remember:
The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but that’s the way to bet. ~Damon Runyon, “More Than Somewhat,” in reference to Ecclesiastes 9:11, “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”
