(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – Exactly one century ago, the visionary designer Ettore Bugatti presented the first prototype of the vehicle that would go down in history as the Type 41 “Royale.” On the occasion of this impressive anniversary, there was a very special highlight: at the Grand Meeting at Rittergut Birkhof in Korschenbroich-Lüttenglehn, from July 31 to August 2, 2026, an original model of this legendary giant was on display.
Read more Hardly any privacy for F1 stars? Lando Norris describes incident in London
The ceremonial presentation was made possible by an exclusive loan from the Autostadt in Wolfsburg. This gave the public the rare opportunity to experience one of the most elegant and rarest automotive icons of the 20th century up close.
The Bugatti Type 41 Royale, measuring between six and 6.50 meters long, was conceived from the start as the absolute ultimate luxury vehicle. Ettore Bugatti harbored the ambitious goal of creating an automobile that would astonish even the kings and heads of state of his era.
A luxury giant at the wrong time
When the production vehicles finally hit the market in 1929, however, the global economic crisis shook the market for extremely expensive luxury goods. By the end of the relatively short production period in 1933, only six examples left the factory in Molsheim, Alsace. Each of these vehicles received an individual, high-quality body from renowned coachbuilders, making each Royale a unique one-of-a-kind.
The technical dimensions of the car also broke all previously known limits. Under the seemingly endless long hood worked a massive 12.8-liter straight-eight engine, originally derived from aircraft engine construction. This giant produced a breathtaking 300 hp for the time and propelled the ton-heavy vehicle to a top speed of up to 200 km/h.
Read more Domenicali on F1 criticism: We don’t want to silence the drivers
Photo series: Bugatti Type 41 “Royale”
Values that were simply phenomenal in the 1930s. With a wheelbase of over 4.3 meters (longer than a VW Golf!), the Royale towered over almost every other road vehicle of its time. The impressive appearance was crowned by the famous radiator mascot: an upright elephant, designed by Ettore’s deceased brother, the sculptor Rembrandt Bugatti.
The Royale shown at the Grand Meeting is a brilliant highlight in the extensive vehicle collection of the Wolfsburg Autostadt. This unique collection now includes more than 300 historically significant vehicles from over 60 different manufacturers worldwide. A large part of this fascinating collection is presented in the Zeithaus, the cross-brand automobile museum of the Autostadt, which vividly documents milestones in mobility history.
Many other rare classics and automotive treasures can also be discovered during exclusive tours through the well-guarded vehicle depot of the Autostadt. The appearance of the Royale at Rittergut Birkhof thus forms a perfect bridge between historical engineering art and living automotive culture.
- MotoGPTen years ago: Why the 2016 MotoGP season remains memorable
- Formula 1Hardly any privacy for F1 stars? Lando Norris describes incident in London
- MotoGPKTM apparently draws consequences: Vinales faces premature exit
- MotoGPVinales defends himself: “I will finish the season as contractually agreed”
Rarities from the Autostadt:
Beetle successor: Why the EA 266 did not become the Golf
The rarest Beetles in the world: 9 treasures from truck to luxury
Read more Audi Q9: New SUV flagship launches with diesel — additional powertrains confirmed
