Bugatti has restored one of its original 268mph Super Sport prototypes

Remember when Captain Slow very briefly held the world speed record for a production road car? Back in 2010, James strapped himself into the then-new Veyron Super Sport at Ehra-Lessien and hit a barnstorming top speed of 259mph, only for Bugatti test driver Pierre Henri Raphanel to go out a couple of hours later and set a two-way average of 268mph. Damn him.

Anyway, Bugatti has clearly been reminiscing about that day, because it has just restored one of the incredible Super Sport prototypes that helped the firm reclaim that record from the SSC Ultimate Aero.

We’re told that this particular pre-series prototype was originally a “working development vehicle” before being used for “communications activities, customer demonstrations, media engagements and photoshoots” back in the early 2010s, and it had just under 44,000 miles on its clock when Bugatti’s La Maison Pur Sang department got their hands on it six months ago.

It has since been treated to the full works. “Even machines that have driven extensive miles can be carefully returned to new-car specification,” says Bugatti about this programme. And so, the Super Sport was treated to refinished carbon bodywork and a new clear-coat, while the orange paint so synonymous with the first five ‘World Record Edition’ Super Sports was ‘carefully renewed’.

The interior was also retrimmed with new leather and restored seats, and we’re told that the steering wheel was fully serviced and detailed. A number of prototype parts – including some of the electronics and radiator systems – were also upgraded to the eventual production specification. “Crucially, the core mechanical elements from the car’s awe-inspiring W16 engine and highly complex gearbox remain original,” says Bugatti. Yeah, we’d probably leave those well alone too.

We’re told that this rather special car will now go to live “within one loyal Bugatti owner’s collection” and that Bugatti has gifted this new owner a certification book documenting this particular car’s history and its refurbishment. And yes, that probably is a loose use of the word ‘gift’ given how much this person has presumably paid for the car.

Still, it’s quite the thing, and gives us an excuse to watch that epic May film all over again…