Before the all-conquering Veyron, Bugatti had a vastly different outlook
Currently known for game-changing hypercars like the Veyron and the Chiron, Bugatti’s story since 1909 has been one of noteworthy change and evolution. Owned by Volkswagen Group since 1998, this French car company's history includes stints in aviation and motor racing, including a victory at the first-ever Monaco Grand Prix in 1929 and two 24 Hours of Le Mans titles, the last in 1939 with driver Pierre Veyron behind the wheel.
The rights to the Bugatti name were acquired in 1987 by Italian businessman Romano Artioli, who set about developing a new supercar. Debuting in 1991, the all-wheel-drive Bugatti EB110 featured a carbon-composite chassis and a quad-turbocharged 3.5-litre V12 engine with no less than five valves per cylinder.
Not content and keen to rekindle Bugatti’s reputation for ultimate luxury, including a time when limousines were this French brand’s focus, Artioli commissioned a four-door fastback derivative of the EB110, dubbed EB112.
Moving the car’s reconfigured and now non-turbocharged V12 engine from rear-mounted to up front to free up space, the EB112’s bodywork was outsourced to renowned designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, who sought to incorporate elements of this firm’s most noteworthy design elements, including the famous “horseshoe” grille, into the new limousine.
With seating for four, the car’s interior remained relatively restrained in terms of its layout, yet with no expense spared in terms of luxury fit and finish, including a bespoke umbrella featuring a scaled-down copy of Rembrandt Bugatti’s elephant sculpture as introduced on the grille of the Bugatti Type 41 Royale as its handle.
Boasting a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 300 km/h, despite debuting the car at the 1993 Geneva Motor Show, the EB112 project never came to fruition, with Monegasque businessman and EB110 owner, Gildo Pastora, assuming ownership of what remained of the bankrupt Bugatti Automobili, ostensively with a view to harvesting spare parts for his racing programme.
Pastora would eventually finish two uncompleted EB112 units included in his purchase, bringing the total in existence, including the original show car, to three.
Registered, serviced and maintained in Monaco since, and with only 388 km on the odometer, this remaining EB112 will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s as part of a forthcoming Monaco Collection on 25 April 2026. The car will be sold with two pieces of matching luggage, a tool kit, and, importantly, its special umbrella with the elephant mascot handle.
Ian McLaren has more than 25 years of experience as a motoring journalist. Here, he will be compiling a series of articles documenting his learning curve when it comes to all things auction. Find him on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok at @IanMcLaren76.
These articles aim to offer insights only and in no way encourage reckless or hit-and-miss purchasing decisions.