Bugattis leave mechanic bug-eyed

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Ryan Pilla, the owner of the Car Doctor auto repair shop on Scuttle Hole Road in Bridgehampton, is usually not nonplussed about high-end performance cars.

“We take care of Lamborghinis, Porsches, Ferraris all day long,” he said last week as he stood next to, and was admittedly in awe of, a pair of brand new and exceptionally rare Bugatti Veyrons on Friday. “It’s the most expensive, fastest production car ever made. Period,” he said.

The Veyron is powered by a massive W-16 engine that produces 1,001 horsepower and a top speed of 253 mph. But its most stunning statistic—and the one that truly sets it apart—is its price: a mere $2.5 million.

And while there have been only some 200 Veyrons built out of a production run of about 300, Mr. Pilla found himself in temporary possession of the only two roadster models yet built, a silver one with a sunroof and a white one with a black convertible top. The remainder are coupes with hardtops.

The occasion was a top-secret, invitation-only showing of the super cars at c/o The Maidstone in East Hampton. Bugatti’s North American representatives called the Car Doctor to give the cars a thorough going-over before Saturday’s event.

“They have been taking them to affluent areas around the country promoting the car,” Mr. Pilla said, noting that he was honored that his garage was chosen to check out the cars, but politely declining comment as to whether he was worried about the responsibility of storing them overnight, as he hurried, along with his crew chief, Rod Davidson, to get the cars inside when a light rain began to fall.

Mr. Pilla, who is a successful race car driver, did say he was looking forward to driving one of the cars—preferably along the back roads—to East Hampton on Saturday morning. But on Monday, Mr. Davidson said that dream had been dashed when representatives of Bugatti returned to the shop and transported the vehicles to their destination.

Stephen J. Kotz