1990 Bugatti EB110 America: A Rare hypercar with Global Ambition

The Bugatti EB110 is often celebrated as the car that revived the Bugatti name for a new generation. Yet one of its rarest and most intriguing versions is the 1990 Bugatti EB110 America. Built with North America in mind, it was tailored to meet stricter regulations while still delivering that unmistakable Bugatti flair.

This car is more than a footnote in history. It’s a fascinating chapter in the EB110 story, blending European engineering with American expectations. And with production numbers vanishingly small, it has become a true unicorn in today’s collector market.

We saw this iconic and very rare 1990 Bugatti EB110 America at the 2025 Concours of Elegance held at Hampton Court Palace. This car was one of many that grabbed my attention, you can see much more Concours of Elegance content here, and videos on our YouTube Concours of Elegance playlist.

The Bugatti EB110 is widely regarded as a pioneer in the hypercar segment. It was the first production car to feature a carbonfibre monocoque chassis, developed in collaboration with the French aerospace firm Aérospatiale. This cutting-edge design marked a shift toward the lightweight, shell-like construction now common among today’s highest-performing vehicles. The EB110 was also the first hypercar to feature permanent four-wheel drive. Rather than adapting an existing unit, Bugatti also engineered its own powerplant from scratch. This bold decision delivered impressive results. In 1993, the EB110 recorded a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7min 44sec- a record that remained unchallenged right up until 2002.

In 1994, Bugatti began preparing to enter the North American market. Developed from the high-performance Sport Stradale (SS) variant, the EB110 America produced 600bhp and extensively featured lightweight materials such as carbonfibre, titanium and magnesium for various components, together with safety and comfort solutions to meet both US regulations and market requirements.

Externally, the EB110 America can be identified by its repositioned Bugatti badge and revised panel gap – both higher up the nose – front and rear side markers plus revised rear wing-mounting points.

Originally finished in light grey, chassis 39025 made its debut at the 1994 Concorso Italiano in Monterey, where it won the People’s Choice Award. In early 1995, it featured at the Chicago Auto Show. Upon the car’s return from the US Romano Artioli decided to keep it, and he commissioned Zagato to repaint it in a unique shade of blue, Blu Bugatti. In Artioli’s words: “A true Bugatti could only be blue.”

The car remained with Artioli until 2013. It was then passed to Gregor Fisken before joining Progetto 33 in 2019. Among the EB110s the America version is the rarest, with a known number of only two examples produced entirely by Bugatti Automobili SpA in Campogalliano.

In 2024, it became the first EB110 to undergo Bugatti’s La Maison Pur Sang authenticity certification programme. The car was deemed ‘Excellent, with no component alterations, and ‘Compliant’, meaning original with no evident damage or modifications, confirming its authenticity. While Artioli’s earlier colour change request deviates from the original specification, Bugatti Automobiles considers it historically significant and integral to the car’s story.

Conclusion: a supercar worth remembering

The 1990 Bugatti EB110 America may not have been built in large numbers, but its impact is undeniable. It represents a moment when Bugatti reached across the Atlantic, offering American enthusiasts a slice of European speed wrapped in exclusivity.

For collectors, it remains a highly desirable prize. For enthusiasts, it’s a reminder of how bold design and cutting-edge engineering can create cars that still resonate decades later.

Would you like to see the EB110 America make more appearances at classic car events? And where do you think it stands among 1990s supercars such as the Ferrari F40 and McLaren F1? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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