From childhood dreams to automotive icons
Giovanni Kollbrunner explains why the Bugatti EB110 still represents the pinnacle of 1990s engineering.
GIOVANNI
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Giovanni, what is the philosophy behind MCC Monaco?
At MCC Monaco, we focus on the cars that shaped our childhood and teenage years. We don't buy cars because they are fashionable or because the market tells us to. We focus on the cars we genuinely love. The emotional connection always comes first.
Why is the Bugatti EB110 such a special car for you?
The EB110 is one of those cars that fascinated us when we were younger. It was incredibly advanced for its time and introduced technologies that were almost unheard of in the early 1990s. We like to compare it to a highly sophisticated aircraft — a machine that was simply ahead of its era.
What makes the EB110 GT so important in automotive history?
It combined technologies that would later become standard in modern hypercars. Four-wheel drive, a carbon-fiber chassis, four turbochargers, scissor doors, and a top speed exceeding 350 km/h. Today those numbers are impressive. Back then they were almost unimaginable.
Why did Bugatti choose the name EB110?
The name celebrates Ettore Bugatti. "EB" stands for Ettore Bugatti, while "110" commemorates the 110th anniversary of his birth. It is a beautiful tribute to the founder and perfectly reflects the ambition behind the project.
The EB110 is available in several colors. Why is Bugatti Blue the perfect choice?
There are some wonderful examples in other colors, and personally I love dark green cars. But when I think of the EB110, I immediately think of Bugatti Blue. It is part of the car's identity. Standing here on the French Riviera with the Mediterranean Sea behind us, the connection becomes even more obvious. The car and the color simply belong together.
Many enthusiasts see the EB110 as a misunderstood car. Do you agree?
Absolutely. It was often misunderstood because it was so complex. The maintenance requirements, the engineering, the technology — it was all far ahead of what people expected at the time. Looking back today, you realize just how visionary the car really was.
What fascinates you most about the story of the EB110?
The entire project. The incredible team behind it, the engineers who left Ferrari and Lamborghini to join Bugatti, the beautiful factory in Campogalliano, and the ambition to build the world's most advanced supercar. It is a story filled with innovation, passion, and unfortunately a bit of tragedy as well.
What role does emotion play when collecting cars?
Everything starts with emotion. Cars are not just machines. They are memories, dreams, and symbols of a certain time in our lives. The best collections are built around passion, not trends. That's what we try to do at MCC Monaco.
The best collections are built around passion, not trends. We focus on the cars that shaped our childhood and never stopped inspiring us.
