Bugatti Sur Mesure captures the spirit of Jean Bugatti’s Type 55
The Bugatti Type 55, a rare collector’s car designed by Jean Bugatti, inspired the modern Chiron Super Sport ‘55 1 of 1’ with its innovative engineering and iconic black and yellow design. Share
The genius of Jean Bugatti—the visionary designer and engineer who imbued the entire automotive world with his pioneering creations—lay in his engineering prowess and the unmatched aesthetic proportions of his designs. The yield of Jean’s legacy endures, and the Type 55 stands as a testament to his supreme talent. The Type 55 Super Sport, a marvel of motorsport inspiration, featured a 2.3-liter straight-eight engine derived from the Type 51 racer. Its unique two-seater roadster body, designed by Jean Bugatti, distinguished it from other cars. As Bugatti’s first Super Sport, the Type 55 set the foundation for modern Super Sport models, blending comfort with a top speed of 180 km/h.
Jean Bugatti also introduced the groundbreaking duotone paint scheme, which inspired Bugatti’s contemporary A/B colour split. Today, the most iconic Type 55 model is known for its black and yellow colour combination. The Type 55 Super Sport is rare, with only 38 units ever produced, making it a highly coveted collector’s item. Its legacy as the first Grand Prix car adapted for road use inspired a customer to commission a special edition Chiron Super Sport, known as the ‘55 1 of 1’.
For this project, Jascha Straub, Manager of Sur Mesure and Individualization at Bugatti, collaborated with the customer and Bugatti’s partner in Dubai. The goal was to capture the essence of the Type 55 Super Sport and infuse it into the design of the modern Chiron Super Sport. The Sur Mesure team focused on the duotone paint scheme, using the black and yellow combination favoured by Ettore Bugatti. A black centerline, reminiscent of the Type 55, runs along the car, with additional yellow accents on the grille and fenders.
Bugatti modernized elements of the Type 55 while respecting its original design. The ‘55 1 of 1’ features a hand-applied fading ‘55’ pattern above the headlights and over the fenders, drawing attention to the horseshoe grill and narrowing the front end. “From a distance, the ‘55’ pattern ensures the fender appears black like the original car,” said Straub. “On the historic car, parts end at a certain point, but with the Chiron Super Sport, it had to fade into zero. It was a long and intricate process, but it was the right approach.”
The ‘55 1 of 1’ also features minimalist black 10-spoke wheels with a yellow ‘EB’ emblem in the centre, connecting the design to the car’s bodywork. The underside of the rear wing is inscribed with ‘55 1 of 1’ in cursive, linking to the car’s heritage. Inside, the ‘55 1 of 1’ continues the tribute to the Type 55 Super Sport with sleek black leather, embroidered headrests, and the fading ‘55’ motif hand-stitched into the door panels in vibrant yellow. Jean Bugatti’s signature is prominently displayed on the door sill and the car’s dedication plate, creating a deep connection between the driver and Bugatti’s storied history.
“At Bugatti, our commitment to bespoke craftsmanship is epitomized by our Sur Mesure program,” said Hendrik Malinowski, Managing Director at Bugatti Automobiles. “Our latest commission, inspired by Jean Bugatti’s iconic black and yellow Type 55 Super Sport, honours a milestone in the brand’s history. The ’55 1 of 1’ infuses the spirit of one of Bugatti’s most pioneering models and demonstrates how Jean’s vision continues to shape our design and engineering ethos today.”
Bugatti Automobiles thanks the Musée National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse for the loan of the original Bugatti Type 55 chassis no. 55237, photographed with the Chiron Super Sport ‘55 1 of 1’ at Bugatti’s premises. Located in Mulhouse, Alsace, France, the Musée National de l’Automobile showcases over 600 revolutionary automotive creations, including more than 100 Bugatti models, each selected for its historic significance and stunning design.
