If the founder of Bugatti were still alive today, he would have been 142 years old on September 15. Ettore Bugatti was only 65 when he died in 1947, but his legacy certainly lives on. For 40 years, the weekend closest to his birthday has become a party and celebration of his life in and around Molsheim. This year, 70 vehicles bearing his name were present to participate in the Bugatti Festival.
For those who have forgotten, Molsheim is not only the current headquarters of Bugatti. Ettore Bugatti set up his first factory in this modest French town in 1908, although it remained in ruins after World War II. The Bugatti company died in the early 1960s, was revived in the 1980s, became part of Volkswagen in the late 1990s and is currently still under the VW umbrella as Bugatti Rimac.
13 Pictures
Now that we’re in the know, take some time to browse the photo gallery above with highlights from the latest festival. Classic Bugattis from Ettore’s era were numerous, including vintage racing cars like the Type 32 Tank, Type 35 and Type 57G. Road classics included the Type 57C Stelvio and the long-wheelbase Type 49, among others, but the celebration also featured many modern Bugatti hypercars.
The EB110 – a modern classic of this collection – shared space with the Veyron and Chiron of the V16 era. The track-only Bolide, which we recently saw in all its carbon fiber monocoque glory, represented the pinnacle of Bugatti’s current performance. Considering the Chiron Super Sport 300+ is capable of reaching 300 mph, that’s saying something. Although it is true that the Bolide is designed to take corners instead of covering miles of straight asphalt.
The three-day festival brought together Bugatti owners, but it wasn’t just an event for the lucky few. Vehicles were on display in Molsheim for the enjoyment of the public and for the last day of the festival, some roads were closed to traffic. This gave Bugatti owners the opportunity to showcase the performance of these special machines, much to everyone’s delight we are sure.
“Through the gates of Château Saint Jean, amid the winding roads of Alsace and in the streets of Molsheim, the fingerprints of Ettore Bugatti are everywhere,” said Christophe Piochon, president of Bugatti Automobiles. “Every car, every engine roar and every hand-assembled detail tells a story of passion, heritage and an unwavering quest for perfection. Molsheim is not just a place; this is where the soul of Bugatti breathes and flourishes. , and every year we are delighted to participate, alongside some of our most enthusiastic customers, in this party organized by our friends the Bugatti Alsace Enthousiastes.”
If the founder of Bugatti were still alive today, he would have been 142 years old on September 15. Ettore Bugatti was only 65 when he died in 1947, but his legacy certainly lives on. For 40 years, the weekend closest to his birthday has become a party and celebration of his life in and around Molsheim. This year, 70 vehicles bearing his name were present to participate in the Bugatti Festival.
For those who have forgotten, Molsheim is not only the current headquarters of Bugatti. Ettore Bugatti set up his first factory in this modest French town in 1908, although it remained in ruins after World War II. The Bugatti company died in the early 1960s, was revived in the 1980s, became part of Volkswagen in the late 1990s and is currently still under the VW umbrella as Bugatti Rimac.
13 Pictures
Now that we’re in the know, take some time to browse the photo gallery above with highlights from the latest festival. Classic Bugattis from Ettore’s era were numerous, including vintage racing cars like the Type 32 Tank, Type 35 and Type 57G. Road classics included the Type 57C Stelvio and the long-wheelbase Type 49, among others, but the celebration also featured many modern Bugatti hypercars.
The EB110 – a modern classic of this collection – shared space with the Veyron and Chiron of the V16 era. The track-only Bolide, which we recently saw in all its carbon fiber monocoque glory, represented the pinnacle of Bugatti’s current performance. Considering the Chiron Super Sport 300+ is capable of reaching 300 mph, that’s saying something. Although it is true that the Bolide is designed to take corners instead of covering miles of straight asphalt.
The three-day festival brought together Bugatti owners, but it wasn’t just an event for the lucky few. Vehicles were on display in Molsheim for the enjoyment of the public and for the last day of the festival, some roads were closed to traffic. This gave Bugatti owners the opportunity to showcase the performance of these special machines, much to everyone’s delight we are sure.
“Through the gates of Château Saint Jean, amid the winding roads of Alsace and in the streets of Molsheim, the fingerprints of Ettore Bugatti are everywhere,” said Christophe Piochon, president of Bugatti Automobiles. “Every car, every engine roar and every hand-assembled detail tells a story of passion, heritage and an unwavering quest for perfection. Molsheim is not just a place; this is where the soul of Bugatti breathes and flourishes. , and every year we are delighted to participate, alongside some of our most enthusiastic customers, in this party organized by our friends the Bugatti Alsace Enthousiastes.”
