BODY SHELL & DOORS: Body with hinged and latched inner and outer doors bonded together.

SOUND AND THERMAL INSULATION: Dynamat material sandwiched in roof, firewall, doors, floor, transmission funnel and doors.

HARD HEADLINER: Double layer roof, four layers of 1.5 oz composite, overhead dome light. 

DOOR HINGES: Custom steel copies of Bugatti Atlantic, with door swing study and stops.

SAFETY DOOR LOCKS: Electric with manual override safety “suicide” door locks.

EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES: Stylish key-locking, chromed exterior door handles.

BULB SEAL: For water and wind seal, 360-degree door jamb rubber, bulb seal surrounding rain channel and exterior drain in trunk plus surface where hood side panels meet hood tops.

INTERIOR BULKHEAD: Vertical rear passenger compartment 1⁄2-inch thick bulkhead composed of AIREX BALTEK core with 1708 weave E-glass on both sides bonded to body.

REAR PACKAGE TRAY: Bonded to body and bulkhead.

STEEL INTERIOR BODY SUPPORT: Metal substructure beneath cowl bolts to frame rails sandwiching the body. Brackets are pre-drilled to bolt-in master cylinder, brake & clutch pedal, windshield wiper mechanism, AC unit, steering column, dashboard and hood release cables.  

ACCESS DOORS: Two openings in top of cowl with doors for easy under-dash access.

GLASS: Custom hand-cut safety glass windshield, rear window and side door glass.

WINDOW MECHANISMS: Complete power window actuators and channels installed in doors.

BODY GLASS FLANGES: For installing windshield and rear window with silicone sealant.

INSTRUMENT PANEL: Durable hydrographically imaged wood grain finish dash matching window bezels with your choice of blank IRP or with pre-drilled holes for 6 instruments and 2 AC outlets. Two 3 3/8 in. holes for speedometer and tachometer, four 2 1/8 in. for ammeter, oil pressure, fuel and temperature gauges in classic Bugatti dash layout. Your choice of wood color and grain.  Click to see wood grains available.

TRUNK LID: Hinged and latched inner and outer trunk lid bonded together. Your choice of recessed 27-inch diameter spare tire depression (different depths available for wider tires) in deck lid or smooth with stylized rear dorsal fin at no extra cost. Adjustable prop rod for trunk.

FENDERS: Four fenders with inner support braces.

LIGHT PACKAGE: Headlight pods. Includes sealed beam adjustable aim headlights, headlight mounting brackets, Bugatti-style front fender marker lights, taillights and interior dome light.

FLOOR: Firewall, passenger compartment, driveshaft tunnel and trunk floor bonded into the body.

RADIATOR BRACE and HOOD HINGES: Aluminum brace from top of cowl to grille shell mounting 4 hood hinges. Two adjustable prop rods hold hood tops open at desired height. 

RADIATOR SUPPORT: Small steel “roll bar” bolts to the front of the frame surrounding radiator.

FIREWALL DECOR: Smooth, unobstructed, polished, engine-turned .030 in. stainless steel panel with one inch swirl pattern on front face of firewall, laser cut to size.

ROLL BAR: Composite roll bar structure built into roof. Mounting points for 3-point lap belts.

HOOD & SIDE PANELS: Left and right two-piece hood top and two hood side panels with smooth inner surface for clean engine compartment.                       

MESH SIDE PANEL INSERTS: Polished woven stainless wire inserts in hood side panels. 

MIRRORS: Chromed interior rear view and two stylish exterior side view mirrors.  

INNER WINDOW BEZELS: Inner windshield, rear window, and two upper inner door bezels hydrographically dipped with your choice of high quality wood grain appearance to match dash. Click to see wood grains available.

INTERIOR GRAB HANDLES: Polished metal handles inside windshield post to assist entry/exit.

EXTERIOR SIDE TRIM: Brass molding for beltline and hood side panel and side body trim.

GRILLE SHELL: Unplated composite grille shell included.

GRILLE: Round polished stainless rods in fixture, emulating classic Bugatti Type 57S grille.

COMPOSITE or ALUMINUM BODIES can be ordered in your choice of materials.

(1.) Our “Full Carbon” construction is made with four layers of 5.7 oz. 2 x 2 twill carbon fiber. The weave cloth is visible through a polished “clear carbon” urethane finish. Carefully hand laying the carbon fiber cloth to avoid wrinkles is a tedious and time-consuming (i.e. thus costly) process. $44,900.

(2) Our “Hybrid” body. One layer of carbon is backed by VECTORPLY biaxial weave composites. It can have a “clear carbon” appearance where you see the cloth weave through a sun fast urethane clear coat with U.V. protectant with a show quality surface. Or it can be coated with opaque gel coat finish if you intend to paint the body. You can design your own, covering a portion of the body with “clear carbon” finish and leaving the remainder in gel coat to be painted the color of your choice. As an example, our prototype is “clear carbon” above the beltline and painted BMW silver below. $36,500.

(3) A gel coat finish without carbon fiber is available as our lowest cost composite body. $29,900.

(4) We can hand hammer an aluminum body for you using selected, reputable and experienced metal craftsmen. Aluminum body to be painted. $190,000.

(5) Fully polished mirror finish aluminum (body made in UK). $240,000.

TURNKEYS: While we’ve built dozens of show quality cars over the years, we haven’t yet built a production turnkey version of this, our best car so far. We estimate a finished, running alloy bodied car in the $450,000+ range, and a composite bodied turnkey starting at $250,000. Expensive engines will raise price. 

ENGINES: Our first prototype car has an all aluminum 5 litre M70 BMW V-12. Our first production car will have a new supercharged 556 HP 6.2 litre LSA Cadillac engine. We can build a chassis to accept any customer choice of engine and transmission or transaxle. The top of the line is a RENNTECH (Lake Park, FL) twin turbocharged Mercedes V-12 engine for $120,000+, or you can put an inline Jaguar six in yours to make it look more Bugatti-like. Engines are only included in “turnkey” builds.

CHASSIS: Four levels of chassis built by THE ROADSTER SHOP in Mundelein, IL are available starting at $18, 590.
Click for more Frame and Chassis information.

WHERE ARE THE COMPOSITE BODIES MANUFACTURED?
At Velocity Engineering in Fort Wayne, IN.

WHERE ARE THE ALUMINUM BODIES MADE?
At selected panelbeaters in the United States, or in the case of bodies with the mirror polished finish, in England.

WHAT IS THE WAITING TIME FOR BODIES?
We start manufacturing composite bodies in November. We already have orders for four bodies and all bodies will be scheduled to be built in the order we receive deposits. Once we are up and running, production time to build a body will be two weeks. Alloy bodies could take 2-3 months from the time the construction is begun.  

IS THE BODY DESIGNED TO FIT A “DONOR” CHASSIS FROM AN EXISTING CAR?
We have worked with THE ROADSTER SHOP in Mundeline, IL on a chassis specifically for our BELLA FIGURA. The digitally designed chassis can be provided with varying degrees of their FAST TRAK rears to accommodate different levels of horsepower and torque. Qualified fabricators might be able to build a frame suitable for this car but it was never intended to be used with a “donor” chassis. 

DO YOU OFFER PLANS OR SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE FRAME and CHASSIS FOR THE “Build It Yourself” CUSTOMER?
No.

WHAT ARE THE DIMENSIONS OF THE BELLA FIGURA COUPE?
Wheelbase 127-inches, length 194-inches, width 76-inches, floor to ceiling 44-inches. Estimated weight of a completed car is 3,000 pounds.

HOW BIG AN ENGINE WILL FIT IN THE CAR?
The centerline dimension from the firewall to the back of the radiator is 41 inches. The firewall is 45 inches wide. The radiator is 30 inches wide. We are also building Type 57S for a customer who has an engine longer than a Viper V-10. Width of the engine should not be a problem, but in special cases could be accommodated with slight bulges in the hood side panels (or moving the front suspension and fenders, grille shell etc. forward a few inches). As for horsepower, THE ROADSTER SHOP will offer three levels of FAST TRACK IRS to accommodate most any engine. For engines exceeding 1,500 HP (Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12, etc) we suggest a MENDEOLA transaxle.

WHAT IS VACUUM INFUSION?
CARBON FIBER is a strong, lightweight and expensive composite material that has been used in the aerospace and automotive industry. Layers of carbon fiber are carefully laid into a mold with a foam core material sandwiched between the layers to give the material strength, stiffness and thickness. Using a vacuum infusion process, Vinyl Esther resin is sucked through a tube that soaks the foam core and carbon fiber layers of material. This creates a “wet out” condition as the resin forces air in front of it. For the resin to penetrate the material fully, the mold is sealed in a vacuum bag and air is drawn out until the carbon fiber is compressed against the mold and filled with resin. The Vinyl Esther is a modified epoxy that bears all the physical properties of an epoxy while allowing a simplified M.E.K.P. catalyst for its cure. When the resin cures and creates a rigid part, it can be pulled from the mold. Sandwiching the foam core and carbon fiber allows the body to be substantially lighter and stronger than the equivalent in fiberglass or steel. The Vacuum Infusion Process is not required to build our composite bodies, but it is available as an extra cost option. It's often called ”vacuum bagging.”

DO YOU RECOMMEND THE VACUUM INFUSION OPTION?
It is not a necessity, though it does make for a higher quality composite product. 

REGISTERING FOR HIGHWAY USE:
US and some foreign government legislation dictates that our BELLA FIGURA is officially recommended for OFF HIGHWAY USE ONLY. However, if you wish to buy or build a BELLA FIGURA body, a “roller”, a “turnkey minus” or “turnkey” and register is for highway use, you are perfectly at liberty to do so. Registering for highway use in the USA varies from state to state. It is much easier or more complex to do so in some foreign countries. Where there is a will, there is usually a way. Customers are responsible for investigating, titling, insuring and registering their cars for road use.

DO I HAVE TO HAVE A CARBON FIBER BODY?
We have made and sold over 150 composite Zephyr and Boatail Speedster bodies which are now in Russia, Slovania, New Zealand, Dubai, Australia, England and other countries, as well as the USA. For the BELLA FIGURA project we wanted to achieve the highest quality product we have ever made, thus we offer it in Carbon Fiber. However, our composite Type 57S body without carbon fiber is perfectly adequate for highway use. 

WHAT IS THE HYDROGRAPHIC PROCESS?
Also know as immersion printing, water transfer printing or water transfer imaging, this is a method of applying printed designs to three dimensional objects. In the process, the substrate piece to be printed is pre-treated and a base coat material is applied. A polyvinyl alcohol film is gravure-printed with the graphic image to be transferred (in our case the wood grain and burl desired), and is then floated on the surface of a vat of water. An activator chemical is sprayed on the film to dissolve it into the liquid and activate a bonding agent. The composite piece (dashboard or window bezel) is then lowered into the vat, through the floating layer of ink, which wraps around and adheres to it. After removing the piece from the water, the top coat is applied to protect the design. Hydrographic dipping can achieve full 360 degree coverage of the part surface, including small crevices.   We offer customers their choice of wood burl and grain appearance on the dash and inner window bezels at no extra cost. See images of wood grain and burl available elsewhere on this website. Select the one you prefer. Click to see wood grains available.

WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED TIRE SIZE?
Our body is designed for a 27-inch diameter front tire (and decklid mounted spare) and a 30-inch diameter rear tire. Tire width is optional.

DO YOU OFFER A DVD OR VIDEO?
It’s something we might consider in the future. Right now we’re concentrating on building the cars!

DO YOU OFFER AN ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTION MANUAL?
The bodies we offer for self-assembly are intended to be assembled by qualified engineers and fabricators in accordance with our customer’s specifications. In that context – and because each car will be unique – an assembly manual would be superfluous.  

RIGHT or LEFT HAND DRIVE: No extra cost. Specify RHD, if needed, when ordering. 

ENGINE TURNED DASH: The body comes standard with a beautiful Hydrographically dipped wood-grain finished dash of your choice at no extra cost. For the enthusiast who wants an engine turned dash, we offer an optional laser cut .030 polished stainless panel to fit over the front of the dash with 6 instrument holes and 2 A/C ducts. Matches the one inch swirl on firewall. $400.  

REAL WOOD DASH & WINDOW BEZELS: Polished Indiana walnut hardwood, hand shaped and sculptured to surround interior windows, and matching wood dashboard. $4,000.

VACUUM INFUSION PROCESS: For “clear carbon” or Gel Coated bodies. $2,800.

RADIATOR: Specify outlet/inlet left or right, with A/C condenser and electric fans. If you order one of our ROADSTER SHOP chassis, it bolts in. Price to Come

AIR CONDITIONING: Quality aftermarket unit fits and bolt in under dash. $600.

LOUVERED ROCKER PANELS: In the classic Bugatti tradition, a row of vertical louvers in the panel below the door. Not available in clear carbon. In gel coat finish or alloy bodies. $1,100.

GRILLE SHELL OPTIONS: Unplated composite shell comes with body. Paint it body color.
• Chrome plating the composite shell. $3,000.
• Unplated, hand-hammered brass shell. $4,000.
• Chrome plated brass shell (price estimated). $7,000.

WINDSHIELD WIPER: Single electric bolt-in windshield wiper mechanism. $375. 

REPLICA BUGATTI WHEEL DISCS: Your choice of smooth or with a wide rib for 18 or 19-inch wheels (see photos). $600 ea. 

CABLE RELEASE PACKAGE: Single 7 foot cable and lever to release trunk; also dual cable and levers to release right and left hood top. Bolts into under cowl metal structure. $250

SEAT OPTIONS: To Come

INSTRUMENTS: Six inexpensive black-face, Bugatti-appearance gauges. Larger speedometer and tachometer fit in 3 3/8 inch holes. Oil pressure, temperature, fuel and ammeter fit in 2 1/8 inch holes in our standard dashboard in traditional Bugatti layout. NOTE: More expensive instruments are available on request.

MASTER CYLINDER & BRAKE PEDAL: For automatic transmission use, 180 degree assembly with brake arm and master cylinder that hides beneath the cowl. Doesn’t intrude into the engine compartment. Master cylinder fills through our cowl access door. Bolts in. $460.

MASTER CYLINDERS, BRAKE, CLUTCH PEDALS: For manual trans, 180 degree assembly with brake & clutch pedals with two master cylinders. Hides beneath the cowl. Doesn’t intrude into engine compartment. Master cylinder fills via cowl access door. Bolts in. $610.  

FITTED LUGGAGE AND GOLF BAGS: The trunk is designed to fit a pair of custom made golf bags to hold your clubs and make you the talk of your country club, with custom leather that matches the interior of course! OR how about a set of custom fitted suitcases that are likewise made with matching leathers? Prices to come.

STEERING COLUMN: We’re still sorting out which column and mounting bracket to use.

STEERING WHEEL: Classic Bugatti-style 17 inch diameter. 4-spoke, with beautiful real wood rim. Hydrographically dipped to match dash and widow bezels. Or if you choose the real wood dash and window bezels, we can have rim match that as close as possible. Four--spoke wheel with engine-turned finish for $1350. Second photo shows more elaborate "leaf spring" pattern on spokes $1,500.

REAR FENDER SKIRTS: Bolt on, with gel coat finish, $600. Clear carbon finish, $800.

BUGATTI STYLE RADIATOR CAP: Replicates Bugatti over center locking cap. Chrome plated, decorative, non-functional with the radiator we suggest. $475.

FLYING SWAN HOOD ORNAMENT: Beautiful, chrome plated. $950.

FUEL TANK: Designed for new ROADSTER SHOP chassis.. Price to come.

BUMPERS: We are designing front and rear bumpers, preferably Bugatti-style. Price to come.