Description

The Bugatti Type 41 Royale stands as one of the most extraordinary and ambitious automobiles ever built. Conceived by Ettore Bugatti in the 1920s as a car for royalty and heads of state, the Royale was designed to embody absolute luxury, power, and prestige. However, its timing was unfortunate—the car debuted during the Great Depression, and only six examples were ever completed.

At the heart of the Royale was a massive 12.7-litre inline eight-cylinder engine, one of the largest ever fitted to a passenger car. Originally designed for aircraft use, the engine was smooth, powerful, and torquey, producing around 275 to 300 horsepower. It was paired with a three-speed manual transmission and could propel the car to a top speed of approximately 100 mph—remarkable for a vehicle of its size and weight.

The chassis was equally impressive, measuring around 4.3 metres (169 inches) in wheelbase and over six metres (nearly 20 feet) in overall length. Weighing roughly 3.5 tonnes, the Royale was a giant on the road, yet it was built with the same attention to detail and engineering finesse that characterized all Bugattis. Suspension was by leaf springs, and braking was handled by massive mechanical drums.

The Royale’s bodywork varied between cars, as each was fitted with bespoke coachbuilt designs from prestigious ateliers such as Weymann, Binder, Park Ward, and Bugatti’s own in-house coachworks. The styles ranged from formal limousines to elegant coupés, each one an art piece on wheels. The interiors were lavish, typically featuring fine wood trim, sumptuous leather, and the finest fittings available at the time.

Despite its grandeur, the Royale was a commercial failure. Of the six completed, none were sold to royalty as intended, and several remained unsold for years. Ettore Bugatti famously refused to sell one to the King of Albania because he found the request insufficiently dignified.

Today, the Type 41 Royale is a legend—one of the most coveted collector cars in the world. Each example is unique, and all are preserved in museums or private collections. The Royale represents the pinnacle of pre-war automotive excess and a bold statement of what a car could be when designed without compromise.