# Bugatti Type 41 Royale Held Auction Record for 20 Years

> The Bugatti Type 41 Royale sold for $9.8m at auction in 1987, a record that stood for two decades.
- Title: Bugatti Type 41 Royale Held Auction Record for 20 Years
- Summary: The Bugatti Type 41 Royale sold for $9.8m at auction in 1987, a record that stood for two decades. bugatti, type 41 royale, auction · reported by Jalopnik.
- Keywords: bugatti, type 41 royale, auction, 1987, record, price, car, cars, culture, Type, Royale, Held
- Source: Jalopnik — https://jalopnik.com/2277466/bugatti-type-41-royale-most-expensive-auction-20-years
- Author: Chloe Clougher
- Published: 2026-10-10T16:25:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bugatti, type 41 royale, auction, 1987, record, price, car, cars, culture
## Bugatti Type 41 Royale Auction Record
The Bugatti Type 41 Royale sold for $9.867 million at auction in 1987, setting a record that lasted 20 years.
## Previous Record Holder
The previous record holder was a Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spider sold for $8.1 million in 1986.
## Record Breaker
British DJ Chris Evans bid an extra 100,000 euros to break the record in 2023.
## Design and Engineering
The Royale was designed as the world's most extravagant car with a 12.8-liter engine producing 300 horsepower.
## Production Numbers
Only six Royale cars were built, with four sold during its production run.
## Current Value Estimates
Hagerty estimates the Royale is worth $50 million today, surpassing the $22 million pre-war car record.
## Key takeaway

The Bugatti Type 41 Royale sold for $9.867 million at auction in 1987, a record that lasted 20 years.