Description

Burkard ‘s Car Collection (Switzerland)

The Pearl Collection: Fritz Burkard’s Automotive Masterpiece 🇨🇭

Fritz Burkard, the Swiss 🇨🇭 visionary behind the Pearl Collection in Zug, curates an elite family-owned assembly of over 50 rare vehicles (spanning ~80-90 total). From 1897 origins to hypercars, it’s a timeline of innovation—historic Grand Prix machinery, quirky 1960s one-offs, and 21st-century beasts. Emphasizing drivability and preservation over restoration 🛠️,

Burkard showcases at global events like Pebble Beach and Concours of Elegance.

His 2024 Type 59 Best of Show 🏆 and 2025 cross-country Type 57S trek highlight the ethos: classics meant to roar 🏎️.

Make & Model (Year)	Quick Specs	Fun Facts & History
Abarth 1000 Monoposto Record ‘La Principessa’ (1960)	1.0L type 229 Bialbero four-cylinder; 108 bhp; Pininfarina body, 0.20 drag coefficient; ~136 mph top speed 🇮🇹	Chassis E1351; prototype co-designed with Pinin Farina for FIA endurance records as a single-seater speed demon. Monza assault (Sep-Oct 1960): shattered 8 world marks incl. 126.5 mph avg. over 12 hrs, 123.5 mph/24 hrs, 118.2 mph/48 hrs, 116 mph/72 hrs—proving tiny engines could conquer distance at blistering paces 🏁. 2023 Concours of Elegance star where it dazzled with its slippery ’60s aerodynamics. Quirky record-breaker in Swiss 🇨🇭 vault, symbolizing Abarth’s underdog spirit against bigger rivals. Preserved for historic displays, evoking Carlo Abarth’s scorpion-sting ethos.
Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza (1933)	2,866cc supercharged straight-8 (Vittorio Jano design); ~150 bhp; Brianza bodywork 🇮🇹	Chassis SF28 (upgraded from original); Scuderia Ferrari-registered powerhouse, raced by Tazio Nuvolari at Monaco GP (fiery duel with Achille Varzi) & Swedish GP winner in Aug 1933. Hillclimb hero at Mont Ventoux/San Sebastian. Post-upgrades as SF28, tackled Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Circuito di Varese. Decades of ownership swaps led to full restoration. 2012 Goodwood Revival triumph—driven from Germany, won its race, then motored home, embodying the era’s grit 🏆. Pre-war racing royalty. Pearl’s 2023 Hampton Court highlight from Swiss 🇨🇭 trove, a testament to Alfa’s golden age under Enzo Ferrari’s early stewardship.
Aston Martin DB5 (~1963)	4.0L straight-6; ~282 bhp; saloon body 🇬🇧	James Bond’s silver screen legend (Goldfinger chase immortalized it). Pristine preserved GT with wire wheels, overdrive, and that Colombo V12 growl 🇬🇧. Bridges ’60s British elegance & performance via Tour de France rally heritage. Modern anchor in Burkard’s heritage-to-hyper spectrum. Rare left-hand-drive example, often spotlighted at European concours for its cinematic allure and subtle refinements over the DB4.
Bugatti Bolide “Type 35” 100-Year Edition (2024)	8.0L quad-turbo W16; 1,578 hp; 1,600 Nm torque; 1,240 kg curb (0.67 kg/PS ratio); 0-100 km/h in 2.2s; ~500 km/h projected; track-only (40 built, this #40 one-of-one) 🇫🇷	Burkard-commissioned finale as a “longstanding friend of Bugatti.” Tri-tone blue livery (Black Blue, Special Blue Lyonnais, Lake Blue) echoes his Type 35 & final Veyron Grand Sport. Type 35 homage with 100th Anniversaire badges, full carbon monocoque, >2,630 kg downforce @320 km/h via massive rear wing/X-wing vents 🇫🇷. Pebble Beach 2024 debut (first track-only entry, turning heads in Preservation class). Lapped Bernina Gran Turismo 2025 (piloted by Mate Rimac, Andy Wallace, Burkard himself). Sim Nürburgring lap: 5:23.1—raw, unfiltered hyper-evolution of Ettore’s 1920s blueprint 🏎️.
Bugatti Centodieci (2022) x2	8.0L quad-turbo W16; 1,577 bhp; 1,600 Nm torque; 0-100 km/h in 2.4s; limited to 380 km/h (10 built total) 🇫🇷	Dual EB110 tributes for 110th anniversary, with 20kg lighter chassis than Chiron. Bespoke aero/modern cues blending ’90s supercar nostalgia (grouping vents like EB110’s) with hyper-era excess. Handling-focused driver’s delight via retuned suspension 🇫🇷. Pair amplifies exclusivity in Pearl’s hypercar crown—one in French Racing Blue, the other custom. Debuted at Geneva 2019, instantly $9M icons. Burkard’s duo underscores his modern Bugatti obsession, from Veyron to these EB110 spiritual successors.
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport (2021, Orange ‘Arancia Borealis’)	8.0L quad-turbo W16; 1,500 bhp; lighter chassis (titanium/tungsten bits); top ~350 km/h (60 built) 🇫🇷	Matt Arancia Borealis orange livery with split accents & custom 20-spoke wheels. Track-honed for agility (stiffer anti-roll bars, 20 kg lighter via magnesium wheels) 🇫🇷. Pebble Beach 2024 display (first Pur Sport there, alongside Type 59). Bugatti Tour 2023 participant from Molsheim to Goodwood. Sporty vibe in Pearl’s hyper lineup, blending luxury (Alcantara/carbon interior) & lap prowess (0-200 km/h in 5.8s). Burkard’s choice for its “pur sang” (pure blood) focus on cornering over straight-line supremacy.
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport (2021, Orange Stripes)	8.0L quad-turbo W16; 1,577 bhp; 1,600 Nm torque; 0-100 km/h in 2.3s; top 440 km/h limited (30 built) 🇫🇷	Bespoke orange stripe livery (vibrant accents slashing French Racing Blue base, inspired by ’80s Group B rally cars). Speed-record chaser (world’s fastest production car at 304.773 mph in 2019 EB110 homage run) 🇫🇷. Elongated rear deck for aero/stability (long-tail design adds 15 cm). Pearl’s high-velocity hyper with custom Molsheim plaque. Complements Chiron duo in Burkard’s modern Bugatti stable—delivered 2021, immediately road-tripped across Europe. 0-500 km/h in 28.6s, a blur of hyper-legitimacy 🏁.
Bugatti Divo (2018)	8.0L quad-turbo W16; 1,479 bhp; 1,600 Nm torque; top limited to 380 km/h (40 built) 🇫🇷	Chiron-evolved track fiend with 90 kg weight savings via carbon/titanium. Wind-tunnel downforce mastery (456 kg @250 km/h from NACA ducts/dragonfly vents) 🇫🇷. Bolder aero, custom luxury (exposed carbon, Alcantara). Agility-first ethos for circuit purists—0-100 km/h in 2.4s, but shines in corners. Geneva 2018 reveal ($5.8M starting). Burkard’s example in Atlantic Blue, a “museum on wheels” bridging Jean Bugatti’s ’30s designs to Rimac-era tech.
Bugatti Type 51 (1931)	2.3L supercharged DOHC straight-8; 185 hp @5,500 rpm; 7.5:1 compression; ~125 mph top speed 🇫🇷	Chassis from early batch (1 of ~40); Type 35 successor for 1930s GPs with twin-cam evolution & hydraulic brakes. Louis Chiron 1931 French GP win (namesake) 🇫🇷. Supercharged for 1.5L voiturette class. Pearl’s pre-war racer with Montlhéry track history (driven by Burkard at vintage events). Bridges Type 35 legacy to Type 59 in collection’s Bugatti arc—restored with original patina, evoking Ettore’s defiant stand against Alfa/Mercedes dominance 🏆.
Bugatti Type 57 Atalante (1936)	3.3L supercharged straight-8; Gangloff coachwork; ~200 bhp 🇫🇷	One of 17 rarities (Atalante coupe sans fin); Jean Bugatti’s flowing pre-war GT with V-windshield & no dorsal fin. Drivable testament to Type 57’s tourer grace—710 total T57s built 1934-40 🇫🇷. Burkard’s example (chassis unknown publicly) toured 2023 Hampton Court. Unique stories include its mythological namesake (Atalanta) & role as Atlantic precursor, preserved for road use in Pearl’s philosophy.
Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio (1937)	3.3L straight-8; drophead coupé body; ~160 bhp 🇫🇷	Atalante’s open-air kin with Stelvio Pass-inspired versatility. Drophead tourer from Type 57 series (non-supercharged base) 🇫🇷. Racing roots via Tank/Atalante siblings. Captures Type 57’s dual-road/race soul—Burkard’s pair (Atalante & Stelvio) showcased as grand tourer duo at 2023 events. Unique convertible freedom, often driven on Alpine passes, aligning with collection’s “drive it” mantra 🛣️.
Bugatti Type 57S Atalante (1937)	3.3L supercharged straight-8; Atalante body; ~200 bhp 🇫🇷	Chassis 57502 (1/17 S-spec); Earl Howe orig. via Sorel London (1937 delivery). 48-yr hideaway in Newcastle garage (Dr. Harold Carr, 1955-2007 rediscovery) 🇫🇷. Post-Rétromobile restore (2009 £3M reserve miss, full nut-bolt by DK Engineering). £7.8M Gooding 2020 sale to Burkard. 2025 3,000+ mi U.S. odyssey from Newport to Pebble—Gangloff coachwork, Roots blower. Pearl of preservation, driven not displayed 🏆.
Bugatti Type 59 Sports (1934)	Supercharged 3.3L straight-8; dropped body, piano-wire wheels; ~200 bhp 🇫🇷	Last GP evolution (6 built, chassis 59101?); Dreyfus’s Monaco 3rd/Belgium triumph (1934). Sports mod (supercharger out for reliability, dry-sump gearbox, revised chassis/body for road) 🇫🇷. Leopold III’s royal steed. Unrestored Pebble 2024 Best of Show 🏆 (first preservation winner)—France’s fastest sports car post-victories. Burkard’s unrestored icon, patina intact, proving pre-war machines endure modern roads.
Chevrolet Camaro (1967)	V8; custom mods; ~300+ bhp 🇺🇸	Yank muscle transplant with Burkard hands-on restore (personal wrenching for authenticity). ~300+ bhp via period mods 🇺🇸. Injects Stateside thunder to Euro-heavy lineup—rare Z/28 or SS trim? ’60s icon evoking Trans-Am wars. Pearl’s American outlier, driven on U.S. tours, bridging continents in Burkard’s global vision.
Delahaye 135 M (1936)	3.6L inline-6; ~140 bhp; Saoutchik convertible body 🇫🇷	Chassis 47380 silver roadster; Art Deco convertible for elite jet-set with transverse leaf-spring independent front suspension (Becchia design). ’30s French glamour, supercharged option 🇫🇷. Confirmed for 2025 Concours of Elegance Hampton Court. Embodies Delahaye’s sporting luxury era—Le Mans class wins, owned by celebrities. Burkard’s drophead delight for sunny drives.
Delage D8-120 de Villars (1938)	4.7L straight-8 OHV; ~120 bhp; de Villars cabriolet drophead; lowered chassis 🇫🇷	Chassis 51626 (one-of-one); ordered by Mrs. Richer Delavau (1938). Engine upped to 4,737 cc from D8-100 base (Jean Francois design) 🇫🇷. Debuted/won Grand Prize at 1938 Concours de l’Auto de Printemps. Peninsula Classics Best of the Best 2023. Delahaye-acquired Delage’s finest post-1935 bankruptcy, with hydraulic drums & Cotal semi-auto gearbox. Art Deco rarity, driven to St. Moritz events.
Ferrari 275 GTS (1966, ex-Jenson Button)	3.3L Colombo V12; ~280 bhp; 4-speed manual; Pininfarina Spyder body 🇮🇹	Chassis 08735 GTB/4 Spyder; former F1 champ Jenson Button’s personal driver (acquired 2010s via RM Sotheby’s, sold to Burkard ~2023). Pebble Beach 2025 entrant (M2-06 class) 🇮🇹. Elegant grand tourer with alloy body, disc brakes, triple Weber carbs. Pearl’s ’60s Ferrari jewel, blending racing pedigree (Pininfarina prototypes) & open-top poise—Button’s mileage adds modern F1 lore to classic GT.
Lincoln Indianapolis (1955)	5.5L OHV V8; two-seater speedster; aerodynamic Boano coachwork 🇺🇸	Chassis 55SAB-78; one-off Ghia/Boano exclusive study for Lincoln. ‘Hottest of hot rods’ in St. Moritz jet set 🇺🇸. Won American Class at Royal Bahrain Concours. Swiss 🇨🇭-housed rarity blending mid-century U.S. power with Italian flair. Pebble Beach & Hampton Court displays.
Maserati 4CL Monoposto (1939)	1.5L straight-4 (4 valves/cyl., Roots supercharged); ~150 bhp; single-seater chassis 🇮🇹	Chassis 1564 prototype (1 of 7 pre-WWII); Tripoli GP debut. Raced by Trossi (Naples GP win), Cortese (Abbazia), Villoresi (Livorno) 🇮🇹. Post-war with Trintignant. 2019 Pearl join after VSCC hillclimbs & museum stint. Voiturette-class rival to Alfa 158/ERA.
Peel P50 Coupé (1965)	49cc single-cylinder; three-wheeler; ~38 mph top speed 🇮🇲	Guinness tiniest prod. car. Pint-sized prankster vs. hyper beasts 🇮🇲. Widens Pearl’s whimsy-to-wow range.
Peel Trident (1965)	49cc single-cylinder; fiberglass two-seater; ~28 mph top speed 🇮🇲	P50’s bubbly upgrade. 72″ long/330 lbs; ’65-66 run 🇮🇲. ’60s sci-fi in micro form.
Prinetti & Stucchi Tricycle (1897)	Twin De Dion engines; tricycle; ~64 km/h top speed 🇮🇹	Ettore’s apprentice dawn (Type 1 root). 1899 Reggio Emilia record win (64 km/h avg./90 km) 🇮🇹. Bugatti genesis.
Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental (1934)	7,668cc side-valve inline-6; high-lift cam; 92 mph top; Park Ward Streamlined Saloon 🇬🇧	Chassis 185XJ; wind-tunnel-tested aero body. Olympia ’34 premiere 🇬🇧. U.S. ownership lineage. 2000s full restoration for Pebble/Amelia Island. Glorious swan song for side-valve engine in high-performance luxury (1929-35 run, 281 Continentals built). British pivot in Pearl’s Euro focus.
Talbot-Lago T150 T (1937)	4.0L inline-6 (supercharged option); ~140 bhp; touring saloon body (custom coachwork) 🇫🇷	Chassis variant in T150 series (pre-SS evolution). Grand tourer for long-haul elegance 🇫🇷. Figoni et Falaschi influences in Pearl examples. Complements T150 C-SS Teardrop. ’30s French versatility with independent front suspension. Rare non-racing T150 in Burkard’s lineup.
Talbot-Lago T150C SS New York Teardrop (1937)	4.0L supercharged straight-6; Figoni et Falaschi teardrop; ~140 bhp 🇫🇷

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