Les Légendes de Bugatti: Meo Costantini Edition

 The latest in the six part tribute to the men who made Bugatti

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse 

Bugatti released the third model in their six part series “Les Légendes de Bugatti.” It celebrates Meo Costantini, a close friend of Ettore Bugatti and a two-time winner of the Targa Florio. It has styling cues from the famous Bugatti Type 35 which is one of the most successful racing cars in history. The Meo Costantini Edition was released at the Dubai International Motor Show November 5-9 2013. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse “Meo Costantini” edition is priced at $2.8 Million USD. This edition as were the previous two editions is limited to a 3-vehicle run.

The Series of “Les Légendes de Bugatti” was launched in August at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with the “Jean-Pierre Wimille” edition. The next release was the “Jean Bugatti” edition introduced at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in fall 2013. The “Meo Costantini” edition is equally impressive.

Specially developed “Bugatti Dark Blue Sport” finishes the carbon-fibre bodywork of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse. Aluminium accents are polished and clear-coated, of which Bugatti is the only auto manufacturer to offer. It is a spectacular display of color as light glints from the blue paint contrasted by the aluminium touches. The color references France’s classic motor sport color and the Bugatti Type 35.

The interesting feature of this car is the use of two different paint finishes on individual parts which requires great skill. The underside of the rear air brake is a silhouette of the historic race course representing Meo Costantini’s victory at Targa Florio. His signature is laser printed onto the aluminium tank and oil caps painted silver. 

The interior is a symphony of blue tones highlighted by a color Bugatti calls “Gaucho” which is a cognac color. Gaucho accents the roof headliner, footwell, center section of the seats and the rear wall. Lake Blue accents the seat’s side cushions, arm rests, center console, door panels, dash and steering wheel. The contrasting stitching of the leather is in Bugatti Light Blue Sport. The head restraints are embroidered with Meo Costantini’s signature in Bugatti Light Blue Sport.

Behind the seats is a silhouette of the Targa Florio race route. The silhouette is done in a milled and polished aluminium motif directly below the EB logo on the cover crafted from dark blue clear-coated carbon-fibre. My favorite is the racing scenes and vintage car motifs on the doors; they are laser imprinted into the leather trim. Bugatti Light Blue Sport graces the door pockets and handle coves.

And, lest we forget, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is the fastest production roadster in the world. Its lightweight construction is the center of its formidable road manners. The alloy 8.0 litre W16 engine sprints from 0-62 in 2.6 seconds, yields 1,200 hp @ 3,000-5,000 rpm, and produces 1,500 Nm of peak torque. It has a top speed of 253 mph! Can you imagine driving that fast? (I know, when we are late for work right?)

The Type 35 Bugatti had over 2,000 victories under its belt. Ettore Bugatti sold many of these to wealthy race car drivers right after the race. His motto was “Race on Sunday…sell on Monday.” During its tenure, the Bugatti Type 35 was the only car that could be driven on the track or on the streets. Its power of approximately 100 hp came from a 2.0 litre straight 8 engine. It had a perfect weight distribution of 50/50 distributed across the axles. This gave the Type 35 excellent maneuverability. 

Once again, Bugatti has given the world another automotive work of art. What better way to commemorate Bugatti’s greatest than with the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, the fastest production roadster in the world with its top speed of 253 mph. Meo Costantini, Jean-Pierre Wimille, and Jean Bugatti were exemplary examples of dedicated racing car enthusiasts that helped to make Bugatti what it is today. The six car celebration will continue its three car production limited editions. We all wait with bated breath to see the next release. The Dubai International Motor Show takes place on November 5-9 2013 at the Dubai World Trade Centre with the Bugatti exhibit in Sheik Saeed Hall 1.

Notice the contrast of the hand-polished aluminium that is also clear coated

Les Légendes de Bugatti: Meo Costantini Edition