Like Ferrari and the famed Rosso Corsa hue, Bugatti has long been associated with French Racing Blue. The marque's famed motorsport legends have donned the color for many years, making them instantly recognizable to racing spectators and fans alike. However, it's not the only shade of paint that carries plenty of significance for Bugatti.

Black and yellow often don't make for the best bedfellows but, for many years, the unusual color combination was the preferred choice of company founder Ettore Bugatti. In fact, many of his own vehicles were painted in this duo-tone scheme, a finish that remains popular to this day.

Interestingly, many of Ettore Bugatti's early cars wore an understated black finish. However, the popularity of the Art Deco movement led him to inject more color into his own collection. According to the automaker, Bugatti even painted the main gates at Molsheim in this infamous hue. Ettore Bugatti's Type 42 Royale was one of the first to be painted black and yellow. Not long after this, a Type 40 Roadster would don the bumblebee look.

For some models, the unique color combination enhances value. The Type 55 is a prime example. Just 38 examples of the road-going racer were built and, as a result, it is a coveted and collectible motorcar. As the company notes, it's the yellow and black-painted examples that remain the most revered.

Bugatti's Design Director, Achim Anscheidt, explains the importance of the color combination. "Black and yellow remain such an important combination for us, both as a design team and as a brand. Of course, we always look to reinvent it - Ettore would never be satisfied with tradition for tradition's sake - but you will forever find the favored colors of our founder closely associated with the Bugatti brand."

Anscheidt's comments are clear to see when looking at contemporary Bugattis. 2014 saw the introduction of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse '1-of-1'. Yellow exterior accents highlight the black paintwork, with the vivid shade present on the wheels. Inside, Bugatti complemented the black leather with yellow stitching and laser-perforated Veyron silhouettes on the door panels.

And it remains a popular choice among wealthy customers. In fact, the first Chiron delivered to North America wore Ettore's favorite colors, but with a twist. Instead of black paint, an exposed black carbon fiber finish was teamed with yellow paintwork and wheels. Again, this was later specified in 2020 with the introduction of the Chiron Pur Sport.

The one-off finish, known as Jaune Molsheim - Yellow Molsheim, to you and me - was inspired by the very shade favored by Ettore Bugatti. Interestingly, this specific Pur Sport teamed the color with exposed carbon fiber highlights with a turquoise tinge.

"In almost everything we do, we take inspiration from the founding Bugatti family; inventing our own technologies - just as Ettore did - and pushing the boundaries of design and elegance - just like Jean Bugatti - to create something that is unlike anything else on the road, added Anscheidt.