Classified of the week: an alternative Bugatti

Whatever you think of the ubiquitous Bugatti Veyron, it's a wholly compelling thing. The price is stunning. The packaging ingenious. The looks peerless. And it pulls down the laws of physics' pants and gives them a gentle spank on the bottom.

Which seems to be something of a trademark for Bugatti. Because in 1991 it released this - the EB 110. It had A V12 engine with five valves per cylinder (that makes 60 in total), four camshafts and some turbochargers. Four, to be precise.

There was also four-wheel drive - something ordinarily reserved for off-roaders at the time - a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 213mph. The latter meant that, much like its younger brother to come, it was the fastest production car... in the world.

No great surprise considering the team pulled together to build it. The staff were a who's who of Modena supercar-building legends: Nicola Materazzi (developed the Ferrari F40), Paulo Stanzani (ex-Lamborghini engineer), and Marcello Gandini (designed the Countach and Miura) were building the same car. To a religious scholar, that's the equivalent of Jesus, Ghandi and Buddha writing the same book.

And they were so confident with their creation, all EB 110s - named to celebrate the 110th anniversary of Ettore Bugatti's birth - came with a three-year contract that covered all servicing costs. Even stuff like brakes and tyres, which seems pretty reasonable despite its £285,000 price tag (roughly £410,000 in today's money).

Sadly, though, the contract's well and truly lapsed on this rather splendid 1995 example. But it can be yours for a paltry £214,255. That, and its 3107 reading on the odometer, is all we know about it, though. Apart from the fact we want this wholly compelling thing very very much.

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Any TopGear.commers fancy a punt?

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