Delahaye USA to debut "Bella Figura" Bugnotti Coupe at Pebble Beach

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Delahaye USA Bugnotti Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery[/align]


There was time in the late '70s and early '80s in America when a few [strike]misguided[/strike] industrious souls decided to recreate some of the most iconic shapes in motoring history. Kit cars with shapes emulating classic Bugatti, Delahaye, Auburn, Pierce-Arrow, Mercedes, Bentley and Rolls-Royce designs flourished, many poorly made and based on cars like the Buick Regal or Lincoln Town Car. With the originals selling for six, seven or even eight figures, it wasn't surprising that anyone would want a budget alternative, but the offerings were generally more of an insult to the originals than a tribute.

Flash forward a few decades and you'll now find companies like Delahaye USA taking up a similar charge. Rather than offering unfortunate fiberglass bodies for existing vehicles, however, the NJ company is building modern interpretations of some of those classic designs, with the intent to show what those legendary designers of yore might be building today. Take their "Bella Figura" Bugnotti Coupe above, for instance. Inspired by the 1937 Bugatti Type 57S, it's said to be a tribute to Ettore Bugatti's son, Jean. At least as it shows in these renderings, we think it is beyond gorgeous.

The company has been showing off a 1/4-scale model of the project at certain shows and concours recently, but will have a full-size version to display for the first time this Fall. The full-scale carbon fiber body is set to debut at Retro Auto Aug. 13-15, in Pebble Beach, during the annual classic car festivities in Northern California. Delahaye USA plans to offer a turnkey version of the coupe on a custom chassis with an alloy body for $450,000, while a clear-coated or painted carbon fiber version will sell for around $250,000. Plans are to make a targa-style roof and drophead version as well. Check out the small gallery by clicking the above image and be sure to click over to the Delahaye USA site to see some of their other beautiful projects.