As perhaps the most anticipated and groundbreaking car of the 21st century, the story of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is well known by any supercar enthusiast. Perhaps lesser known are some of the ridiculous facts and figures that go along with engineering a road car capable of producing 1,000 brake horsepower and topping out at 250 mph.

• The most technologically advanced car in history.

• In order to achieve the levels of power and top speed that Piëch was after, the engineers had to marry two V-8 engines together to create a W-16 of nearly eight liters. Then, for good measure, they added four turbochargers. The result was, to say the least, powerful. An engineer recalled to National Geographic that the first time the Veyron’s engine was run at full throttle at Volkswagen’s Salzgitter, Germany, facility in 2001, the engine produced so much power, over 1,000 horsepower, that the heat it produced completely overwhelmed the building’s exhaust system on the roof, nearly burning the building down in the process.

• To manage that massive amount of heat, the car is fitted with 10 radiators, with three used to cool the engine, two for the car’s air-conditioning system, and one each for cooling off the transmission oil, engine oil, differential oil, the hydraulic oil used by the spoiler, and the air-to-liquid intercooler cooling system.

• The figure of 1,001 horsepower quoted by Bugatti is merely the minimum amount of horsepower the Veyron 16.4 can produce in less than ideal conditions. Most cars can produce between 1,030 and 1,060 horsepower in the optimum environment.

• During high-speed testing, bird strikes shattered the aluminum grille, damaging several components behind it. To combat this, engineers redesigned the grille in titanium to withstand any impact with a small animal, resulting in no damage to the car or its components.

• The Veyron’s airbrake alone is claimed to provide nearly 0.7 G of braking force, which is roughly the same amount as the brakes on an ordinary passenger car.

• At its top speed of 253 mph, the Bugatti Veyron breathes in 47,000 liters of air per minute, just as much air as one man breathes in four days.

VEYRON NUMBER ONE

The first production Veyron, chassis number 001, was delivered new exactly how you see it today: finished in two-tone Red and Black with a beige interior and the desirable sport seats, which is perhaps the perfect color combination for a car of this magnitude, harkening back to classic Bugatti color schemes. Its colors are eye-catching but not overtly flashy, as to distract from the fascinating marvels of engineering underneath the gorgeous paintwork. The car was delivered new to the U.S. East Coast and then arrived in California, spending the next few years in sunny and star-studded Beverly Hills.

For Bugatti, the delivery of the first production Veyron was a pivotal moment in the company’s history. The development of the Veyron was a process that had taken nearly eight years since the acquisition of Bugatti by the Volkswagen Group, and it was an arduous process. Undoubtedly, Bugatti’s executives were very much looking forward to the moment the first production car was delivered, as that moment would mark their success as manufacturers and etch their names into automotive history. They must have looked upon that first production example, this very car, with pride when it was finally completed, for in the eyes of many it was not only the first production Veyron to hit the road, but it was arguably the most impressive automobile the world had ever seen.

On the occasion of the unveiling of the final production Veyron, Bugatti flew Veyron 001 (along with Veyron 300, also offered here) to Molsheim for the 2015 Geneva Auto Show. The car was shown at Geneva to celebrate 10 years of Veyron production, accumulating in 450 wonderful automobiles. Recently, 001 received a full service by Bugatti of Beverly Hills, where it was fitted with a brand-new set of tires, invoices for which will be on file.

Additionally, RM Sotheby’s is proud to announce that Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., through their Bugatti Certified program, has offered a unique pre-owned warranty for this very special Veyron. Due to its flawless service history, the purchaser shall receive a two-year warranty plus two additional years of service free of charge. Needless to say, such an offer is utterly unprecedented and its value comfortably exceeds $100,000. Should you have any questions regarding this very special offer, please contact an RM Sotheby’s representative, be sure to inquire about the extensive list of parts and accessories that accompany this car.

Following its departure from Southern California, the Veyron has accumulated less than 400 miles with subsequent owners. Today, it remains in exceptional condition, showing very few signs of wear after having traveled fewer than 800 miles during its lifetime. This Veyron has attracted as much attention as the 300th Super Sport (also offered as part of The Pinnacle Portfolio) on the stand at Geneva, and it is hard to believe that it is nearly 10 years old. This car has clearly been well maintained and carefully preserved its entire life, as it presents incredibly well, which helps to beautifully showcase the attention to detail and craftsmanship that makes the Veyron stand out amongst its competitors.

Certainly the Veyron was more than an engineering tour de force, as its creation was a watershed moment in automotive history that may never be repeated, primarily because the budget necessary to develop a car so utterly precise is unfathomably massive and it can only be deployed by a team of engineering perfectionists willing to sacrifice profitability for the sake of automotive history. It cannot be understated, then, what chassis 001 represents to this lineage—it is as much a game-changer and pace-setter as Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis. It is the car that started it all and made everyone re-think what was possible. It is the cornerstone upon which all future supercars will be built and the only benchmark against which they can be compared. Being offered here at auction alongside chassis 300 is an unprecedented, historic opportunity.