One-off chrome supercar that’s so rare ‘there were doubts it even existed’ can be bought for seven-figure price
AN ULTRA-rare one-off supercar is set to hit auction for an outrageous seven-figure price.
In fact, the super-exclusive motor is so rare that there were even doubts it even existed when it was built back in 2009.
Available for sale via Pistonheads, this Bugatti Veyron hypercar with its eye-catching chrome finish can be yours for £2.7million.
Featuring an 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine that’s capable of 1,001 bhp and a top speed of 267mph, the French whip has been dubbed “one of the most special cars on the planet.”
Specifically, this Veyron is known as the ‘Malcolm Campbell’ Centenaire spec, and it was released at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show as a 100th birthday present from the brand to itself.
A quartet of additional Centenaires, all boasting the same name as the Geneva car, were released later on, and according to Pistonheads, all four came with polished aluminium wings while sporting their own centre colour – as a celebration to four former Bugatti racing drivers.
Two blue and white cars were released and paid homage to Jean-Pierre Wimille and Hermann zu Leiningen, while a maroon car honoured Achille Varzi.
This motor, which is available to buy now from European Prestige in Orpington, is in honour of British legend Sir Malcolm Campbell, and its unique feature is its British Racing Green finish contrasted against the mirror’s shine on the wings and wheels.
Campbell is best known for his numerous speed records – including breaking the 300mph barrier in 1935 – but he also competed as a Bugatti works driver in the late 1920s.
Oddly, the Malcolm Campbell edition Centenaire is considered a bargain by Pistonheads at £2.7million, mainly as the newer Chiron model is more than £400k more without the bespoke features.
This comes just months after a Chiron Sport that’s just one of 20 went up for sale for over £3million.
The French supercar brand have also recently unveiled their newest set of wheels called the Tourbillon.
Just 250 units will be produced, with a starting price of £3.2 million – making this the most expensive new car in “series” production.
Malcolm Campbell's need for speed
Sir Malcolm was a motoring icon of his era, famously capturing the world’s water-speed record at 129.5mph (208.41kmh) in 1937.
In 1938 on Lake Hallwil in Switzerland, he raised the record to 130.93mph, and finally, on August 19 1939, on Coniston Water in Lancashire, he set the record of 141.74mph (228.11mph) that he held until he died.
Campbell was knighted in 1931, and died on the December 31 1948 – he was one of the few land speed record holders of his era to die of natural causes.
His son Donald Malcolm Campbell set subsequent land and water speed records but was killed, attempting to repeat his achievements, 30 years later.