Bugatti Royale "Replica"

[TexRiv_63]

I saw this today on Ebay and couldn't resist. Yes, I know its a Hot Rod and the price is ridiculous but I give him credit for sheer audacity. I also really love the engine, a GMC 702 cubic inch V-12. What do you think?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201004795821?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

[Bleach]

The listing is really skimpy considering the asking price. I've seen far more detailed listings for vehicles asking a 10th of the price.

I would have loved to see how the engine was dressed for something like this.

[trimacar]

Think it's an interesting car, and the proportions are very close to being correct. Never be eligible for AACA events of course but it would be a fun ride! Asking price is semi-silly, but hey, one can ask what one wants for one's possession, can't one?

[alsancle]

As with most replicas the wheels mess it up.

The 20 Grand replica that was for sale a couple of years ago was one of the best I've seen.

[Rusty_OToole]

Impressive, and seems better built than most such efforts.

[whtbaron]

Wonder what the offers were that he's turning down?... somebody put some work into it... won't end up in my stable any time soon though...

[junkyardjeff]

Since I first seen one of those motors in a junkyard years ago I wanted to do something with one and a car like that would be neat,way too rich for my blood and yes it does need some wheels that look more period correct.

[Guest my3buicks]

Really nicely done, the only thing that stands out to me as really not working are the taillights. The wheels are fantastic!!

[TexRiv_63]

I just looked up photos of the real thing and it's actually closer in proportion than I originally thought. I agree that the back end is the worst part, but I think the wheels are a neat update of the fabulous alloys on the original. I looked at the builders website which has a lot of build photos, the body was done with carbon fiber, not sure about the other panels. I'd bet the offers have at least three less zeros...

www.edsrodsandrecks.com

[junkyardjeff]

I would have thought it would had wire wheels.

[DNC]

As hard as I try I can never bring myself to like life size replicas.

[alsancle]

The wheels are in the original style but too wide.

[junkyardjeff]

After looking at it more closely the wheels are not that bad but the tail lights are not that great

[1939_Buick]

After looking at it more closely the wheels are not that bad but the tail lights are not that great

Agree with the wheels comment. But why the red chassis ?? :confused:

Edited December 27, 2013 by 1939_buick (see edit history)

[CarlLaFong]

I really do like the car............until you get to the back end.

As Jeff said, the tail lights are awful, as is the whole rear end.

A trailer receiver?????? Really??? On a Royale????

[HarryJ]

I would like to see it in person; yet, I am impressed.

[Restorer32]

A Bugatti Royale was shown at Hershey some time in the late 1960's early 1970's. Anyone else remember it?

[Kimo]

I would think it could be worth as much as $30 to $40 thousand given all of the work that seems to have gone into it and considering they did not have to recreate the steel body and instead used much more affordable composite materials. The starting bid price of $1.2 million is just plain delusional. While I would love an original, I am not sure I would want this reproduction as the shortcuts and 'updates' to the design make me feel I would look like a pimp or drug dealer driving down the road in it.

[Bleach]

Isn't composite just another played up name for fiberglass?

[whtbaron]

Isn't composite just another played up name for fiberglass?

It shouldn't be... it specifically says carbon fiber in the build pics. If done properly, it should be stronger and lighter than fiberglas. I hope his build is better than his photography. I would also suggest deducting a frame paint from your $1.2M bid.

[Amphicar BUYER]

What's the deal with a 60/40 rear seat?

Why did they spend a lot of time and money only to make the rear end look like they shopped for parts at AutoZone or Wal-Mart?

The Red chassis?? HUH?

The wheels are far too wide for the car. (proportions, proportions proportions!!!)

I appreciate the work involved, but the amateur styled rear is just hideous and over-priced by $1.15+ million.

[joe_padavano]

Isn't composite just another played up name for fiberglass?

If you really believe that, you had better not ever fly in a Boeing 787...

[keiser31]

Isn't composite just another played up name for fiberglass?

Composite can mean any number of different materials bonded/attached together. Wood structure with metal exterior, fiberglass, etc.

[Bleach]

If you really believe that, you had better not ever fly in a Boeing 787...

Personally, I really dislike flying. I prefer to drive.

[JACK M]

Two jimmy V-6s bolted together. They didn't make very many of those. (but they did make em)

[Kimo]

Correct, but in my opinion this is a cheap way to create body parts since one can mold them to whatever shape you like and not have to have the artistic ability of the old time coach makers who could take a sheet of steel and hand roll and hammer it into shape. That skill is pretty much gone these days except for a few exceptional folks. Carbon fiber, fiberglass, etc. has some skill required to make, but compared to hand hammering/rolling steel sheets it is not comparable in my opinion and once you have some molds you can churn out as many parts as you relatively quickly.

[CarNucopia]

I don't know about easy, but I doubt working in carbon fiber is cheap. This is a pretty exotic material that is use to build formula 1 cars and fighter jets. Its about one of the strongest, lightest materials around. Asking price aside, I respect the guy for pushing the envelope. This is a hot rod after all.

Correct, but in my opinion this is a cheap way to create body parts since one can mold them to whatever shape you like and not have to have the artistic ability of the old time coach makers who could take a sheet of steel and hand roll and hammer it into shape. That skill is pretty much gone these days except for a few exceptional folks. Carbon fiber, fiberglass, etc. has some skill required to make, but compared to hand hammering/rolling steel sheets it is not comparable in my opinion and once you have some molds you can churn out as many parts as you relatively quickly.

[TexRiv_63]

Two jimmy V-6s bolted together. They didn't make very many of those. (but they did make em)

Here is an old video of one of these running after sitting in a barn for many years:

[JACK M]

Here is an old video of one of these running after sitting in a barn for many years:

This would be fun to watch, however my computer will not load the required flash player. Every time I try to do it I get a new home page. GRRR.

This one even has my puter guru confused.

[whtbaron]

I won't pretend to know more than your computer guru, but that's an issue if you download off the "free" sites on the net instead of going to something like Microsoft.com if you are using Windows. The free downloads have tacked on phishing programs or games (I bet you have WildTangent on your programs list now too, even if you never played it) that they will try to sell you. Flashplayer should come up as an optional download when you run your program updates unless you are running a program that is older and no longer being supported.

[Landman]

Two jimmy V-6s bolted together. They didn't make very many of those. (but they did make em)

they certainly did, I saw this one on the back of an old Reo in Regina 5 years ago.

[joe_padavano]

Two jimmy V-6s bolted together. They didn't make very many of those. (but they did make em)

Um, not exactly. The 702 was obviously twice the 351 V6, but the V12 used a dedicated block, crank, cam, and distributor. The V12 DID use four V6 heads and exhaust manifolds and two V6 intakes and carbs, so it looked like simply two V6s bolted together. The other internal parts (pistons, rods, valve train) were common with the 351.

[joe_padavano]

GMC made more than just a "few", and there's a small following in the hot rod world. Note the valve covers on the front engine in this photo and the ones on the car in this thread.

[MarrsCars]

I don't mind the profile but the grille treatment is awful, the mesh should be thicker to hide all the sausage making going on behind it. I don't hate the wheels, I get that they may be more practical for today's use, more contact patch to brake such a heavy vehicle, but I would like to see them brushed in the center to more closely match the original. The fenders bother me because they are just too flat up front, the subtle elegance of those sculpted lines are what really set the cars of the era apart as this one should now. The leather seats have a mottled finish that just looks "man made" to me, there are so many other options, especially at this price point. Add in the earlier comment about the split rear and you can begin to see that many bits were simply reused from other cars not fabricated whole. As we hear often, if they skimped here then where else? My guess is the guy hears what real Bugatti's sell for, new and classic, and thought he might get some wealthy Saudi or Emirati to bite. This is a $40,000 car to me, and maybe up to $120,000 for the right buyer who just wants a wild looking toy, but the rest of the money is better spent on any number of dozens of better cars.

[Guest edm]

I have to jump in here to clarify some points. It's my car. the built took over 2 years and 7000hrs. to complete. body is done with carbon fiber over shaped foam and carbon fiber on the inside making it 10 times stronger than regular carbon fiber. the hood and grill shell are hand formed out of 16guage cold rolled steel on an English wheel and hand hammered. everything that you see with the exception of the wheels was built for this car. at 80 mph on the interstate and the brakes are applied you can see the tail lights a mile away. carbon fiber is very tempramental and difficult to use requiring a set layup process. cost is 65.00 per yd. we used 300+yds. engine is a thunderv12. I am the builder its not a joke I have 15 national awards and at 100+ mph it floats down the highway. SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND thanks edm

[1937hd45]

Nicely done, I've seen 4 of the original Bugatti Royals, and this build looks like a fun ride. Bob

[Kimo]

Thanks for the additional information EDM. However, I and I think everyone else, are giving our opinions which is what this forum is all about. I am saying that it is a nice looking interpretation of the original but that I prefer the original. Is there a reason why you did not go with making this a true reproduction following all of the design nuances and using the steel body parts of an original? It sounds like you spent a great deal of money going with modern carbon fiber instead. I am also mentioning that the amount of money that goes into something does not necessarily result in the end product reflecting that amount of resources. Restored classic cars are a good example where a collector will often put double, triple, or more of the open market commercial value into their car. Another aspect of this is a reproduction, or an interpretation will also not have the value of an original since it will have none of the historical value an original has.

[CarlLaFong]

Is there a reason why you did not go with making this a true reproduction following all of the design nuances and using the steel body parts of an original?

I don't think there are an awful lot of Royales, laying around, that you could rob original steel parts off of to build a custom

[Bleach]

I think more time was needed on the rear of the car. It really detracts from the elegance of the rest of the car.

[MarrsCars]

I have to jump in here to clarify some points. It's my car. the built took over 2 years and 7000hrs. to complete. body is done with carbon fiber over shaped foam and carbon fiber on the inside making it 10 times stronger than regular carbon fiber. the hood and grill shell are hand formed out of 16guage cold rolled steel on an English wheel and hand hammered. everything that you see with the exception of the wheels was built for this car. at 80 mph on the interstate and the brakes are applied you can see the tail lights a mile away. carbon fiber is very tempramental and difficult to use requiring a set layup process. cost is 65.00 per yd. we used 300+yds. engine is a thunderv12. I am the builder its not a joke I have 15 national awards and at 100+ mph it floats down the highway. SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND thanks edm

EDM, thanks for stopping in to comment on this thread. While opinions vary on the topic it's always welcome to have both views of a story or project. I'm sure none of us doubt your creativity, just citing opinions from the strict "factory build" crowd that is drawn to this forum. Stick around, I'm sure your metal fabricating and CF experience will come in handy to others seeking advice on their own projects and clearly you are a gear head just like the rest of us.