Bugatti has unveiled the third model in its six-part edition Les Legendes de
Bugatti at this year's Dubai International Motor Show. This Legend car, which
like all cars in the series is based on the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse,
pays homage to Meo Costantini.
The series of Bugatti Legend cars, Les Legendes de Bugatti, was launched in
August at California's Pebble Beach Concours d"Elegance with the Vitesse
Jean-Pierre Wimille. This was followed by the Legend car, Jean Bugatti, which
was presented at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Now, the third
Legend Edition, dedicated to Meo Costantini, was revealed to the public for the
first time in Dubai.
Costantini was a close friend of the company's founder, Ettore Bugatti. He was
the head of Bugatti"s factory race team for many years and was also a driver,
winning the Targa Florio two times in the Bugatti Type 35, one of the most
successful racing cars of all time. The Legend Edition "Meo Costantini¨ is
priced at $3.2 million, excluding taxes and transport. As with all Bugatti
Legend cars, the production run is limited to only three vehicles.
Vitesse Meo Costantini's Exterior Design
The body of the 2014 Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse Meo Costantini is primarily
constructed of carbon fiber. The wings, doors, the parts behind the doors, the "medaillons"
(French) and corners of the front bumper are rendered in aluminum. The blue
paintwork on the carbon fiber parts references France's classic motor sport
color, as well as the Type 35. The new paint color "Bugatti Dark Blue Sport" has
been specially developed for the vehicle. The aluminum parts are hand-polished
and coated with clear lacquer. Bugatti is the only production manufacturer to
offer polished clear-coated aluminum bodywork. Another special feature of this
car is that individual parts have two different paint finishes. This requires
great skill, and is particularly impressive to see on the wings, which are
finished in both clear lacquer and blue paint.
As a reference to Costantini"s victory at Targa Florio, the silhouette of the
historic race course is painted on the underside of the rear wing (air-brake) in
"Bugatti Dark Blue Sport." Another feature that pays tribute to the illustrious
racing driver is his signature, which is laser-engraved into the aluminum tank
and oil caps and painted in silver.