classic car

The Folks at Delahaye USA first surprised the world in 2008, when they restarted a name that hadn't been around since the famous Delahaye/Delage, maker of coachbuilt French automobiles, went down the drain in 1954. They said they intended to produce replicas of a famous Jacques Saoutchik-designed Delahaye cabriolet with modern conveniences such as a 500 ci Chevy V8, air conditioning, and power everything. The price brought most potential customers down from their nostalgia high, though, when it was announced that what most people percieved as a larger kit car was going to cost them $500,000. Since then, only one customer has bitten, commissioning a red droptop with gold trim in the traditional Delahaye fashion.

But you're not here about that car, are you? You saw that big, curvy boattail and the name obviously avoiding copyrights. You saw the word perfect in the title of this article. You know that there's something better than a Chevy-powered Delahaye, right? Well here it is: Delahaye USA has begun running ads in duPont Registry for a brand new project, one sure to blow their last car out of the water in perfeormance, styling, and above all, price. This obviously doesn't mean they're going to start shipping out new/old Bugatti's like Camry's all across the United States, but getting a near-perfect car for half the price of their old one doesn't sound bad, does it? That's right, Delahaye USA has created a stylized version of the famous, fabulous Bugatti Type 57 with BMW V-12 power and a beautiful body made of carbon fiber all for $250,000, half the price of the less pretty Delahaye (sorry, Saoutchik)! I know I shouldn't voice an official opinion before I see the car in person, but this is one of the most worthy cars ever to carry the Bugatti badge, even if it's not a "real" Bugatti. I'm telling you that this is more real than the Piechmobiles that we call Veyrons! Topping off the exterior styling and performance is the interior, which is possibly the only interior to make red and crocodile leather look elegant and subdued, with a thin, four-spoke chrome steering wheel and a relatively low number of guages (6) for such a sumptuous car. All in all, if you're not salivating at this point, there's something wrong with you. This is possibly the best car to come to the market since the coachbuilt era of the Thirties, and whoever came up with its streamlined, slightly modernized shape is a genius. This, my friends, may be the perfect car. You know, except in its name, the Bugnotti.