Designed by jean bugatti, ettore bugattis son, and joseph walter, the car was derived from the bugatti aerolite electron prototype shown at the 1935 paris auto show. Bugatti type atlantic 57473 at the 2010 pebble beach tour delegance motoriginal. The type 57 sc atlantic is a design manifesto of jean bugatti. The atlantic was named to honor the first frenchman to fly across that ocean. The bugatti type 57sc atlantic may be the most valuable. Perhaps the most beautiful and exotic and certainly the most expensive automobile in history is the bugatti type atlantic. This year it was predictably the bugatti type 57 sc atlantic, one of the worlds most valuable cars. The bugatti type 57 atlantic was an entirely new design by jean bugatti, son of founder ettore. Bugatti built only three examples of the type 57 sc.
Sep 19, 2019 it started life as the bugatti type 19, a small twoseater that ettore wanted to sell to a bigger manufacturer. It was built by ettore bugatti on a chassis type 57 with the serial no 57453. Lot 202 bugatti type 57 1937 chassis 57453 according to the information of the owner, this bugatti convertible is a prototype or a unique single car. So well have to delve into a bit more history on the car in order to. The bugatti type 57 sc atlantic has, as a result, come to be seen as one of the.
The type 57s atlantic body featured flowing coupe lines with a pronounced dorsal. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. The magnificent 1938 bugatti type 57sc atlantic coupe from. Volkswagen purchased the bugatti trademark in june 1998 and incorporated bugatti automobiles s. Sold with the same normally aspirated s or supercharged sc engines, it had drysump lubrication and a higher state of tune for more power. The 75 year history of each bugatti atlantic is entertaining conjecture for any bugatti enthusiast. One of just four examples built, jean bugattis design masterpiece can usually be seen at the mullin automotive museum or, most recently, the petersen. To modernize the boutique automaker, jean created the type 57, which would be built in standard and lowered chassis, and would serve as the basis for everything from luxury touring cars to racing cars and show cars, like the stunning 1935 bugatti aerolithe concept. The increase was such a high demand item to bugatti owners that a majority of existing type 57s owners returned their car to the factory for supercharger installations. The first owner chose to make some modifications to the bugatti coachwork giving it a figoniinspired teardrop back and front windows that can be tilted for ventilation. Bugatti reminds us of the story of legendary type 57 sc atlantic.
Only four of these cars were created between 1936 and. One of the most bizarre, elusive and expensive of cars is the bugatti type 57sc atlantic. Only four examples were made between 1936 and 1938, with three of them still around, making it perhaps the most valuable car in the world. There are only two bugatti type 57sc atlantics in the world. Jul 10, 2019 yet the exterior of the chiron is stunning as it recalls the styling of the celebrated bugatti type 57sc atlantic complete with a central spine down the middle. The mighty bugatti type 57sc atlantic from 1936 this car was designed by jean bugatti and only produced in a handful of models. Victor owned one of just 3 bugatti type 57sc atlantics ever built. Type 57s were built from 1934 through 1940, with a total of 710 examples produced. Bugatti distinguishable thanks to its extremely long hood, the 12footlong atlantic coupe was developed from a unique prototype which was known as the coupe special and coupe aero.
Apart from its first years after production, the cars history remains mostly unknown. May 05, 2010 automotive history has just been made as the 1936 bugatti type 57sc atlantic has been sold by gooding and company to a buyer that no one would like to confirm. A very peculiar detail is a childrens seat which folds out behind the regular seats. Dec 09, 2010 motor trend senior editor jonny lieberman visits the mullin automotive museum in oxnard, california for a firsthand look at the worlds most expensive car the bugatti type 57sc atlantic.
The atlantic was selected from a field of 100 classics including a 1962 ferrari 250 gto, a 1929 alfa romeo 6c 1750 grand sport spider zagato mm, and a 1939 delage d8120 s coach sport. In 1936, victor ordered the car in light blue, with a dark blue interior. The four type 57 aero atlantic coupes, as they looked at delivery. So well have to delve into a bit more history on the car in order to explain how it could still be more. Jan 17, 2017 twice, in 1971 and in 2010, the 1936 bugatti type 57sc atlantic coupe now coowned by peter and merle mullin and rob and melani walton set the bar as the worlds most expensive automobile. Bugatti rolled out the oneoff supercar to celebrate the brands 110th anniversary and to pay homage to the bugatti type 57sc atlantic, an extremely rare allblack luxury coupe it made in the. Cmc bugatti type 57 sc atlantic, 1938 currently not availabe. This enabled the atlantic to reach a top speed of about 200 kmhr, making. Giles by corsica and the car was debuted by current owner john mozart in new sexy black paint wrong and bizarre crocodileskin upholstery and dashboard finish. One of the most bizarre, elusive and expensive of cars is the bugatti type 57sc. Bugatti type 57 sc atlantic photo gallery, history. The bugatti 57sc atlantic from which the design of the eb 118 is inspired the design of the car is intended to echo the 1931 type 50 and the 57sc atlantic. The chassis of the type 57 was low, underslung, the french word being sousbaisse, hence the s after the type 57 designation. Thanks to bookshop, there is no reason to buy books on amazon anymore.
The bugatti type 57 sc atlantic coupe is not just one of the legends from the french automaker but perhaps the greatest. The s stood for surbaisse lowered and the c for compresseur, a supercharger. Initially, only two of the type 57s cars were equipped with superchargers, which made them type 57sc models in name. This fascinating twoseater was equipped with a compressor rootssupercharger, which boosted the maximum output to approx.
A blackandwhite image of a bugatti type 57sc atlantic. The 57sc atlantic was based on jean bugattis long disappeared but recently recreated aerolithe concept. The first of four bugatti type 57sc atlantics that were ever produced, the rothschild atlantic. Bugatti teases modern atlantic, oneoff expected for geneva debut. As far as i was concerned at that time, i had seen two of the three cars ever made. A journey through 110 years of bugatti history us edition. The final bugatti type 57 atlantic coupe, chassis 57591, was built for. The 19361938 bugatti type 57ssc was even better than the type 57. Bugatti type 57 s atlantic in the history of bugatti. Exhibitions motoring rothschilds the rothschild archive.
The centenaire models harked back to the type 35 and bugattis glorious racing history. Price, who lives in warwickshire, england, claims to have driven almost every model of bugatti since his first a type 57sc atlantic. The bugatti type 57 and later variants including the famous atlantic and. This is an original that we are striving to emulate.
The bugatti type 57sc atlantic may be the most valuable car in the. Dear lego fans, i am very excited to unveil my latest creation in the lego speed champions vintage series. An original bugatti atlantic at road america elkhart lake, wi, sept. With its low stance, powerful engine, lightweight construction, 123 mph 200 kph top speed and influential teardrop body, many believe this is the ultimate bugatti and the first supercar ever made. Synonomous with quality, elegance and luxury, the type 57 sc atlantic coupe embraces every bugatti epithet with consummate ease. Top 10 most expensive and rarest bugatti all of time youtube. In 1936, bugatti developed the type 57 sc coupe, a sports car that is still considered one of the most beautiful in automobile history. Some folks did not consider it to be a true type 57sc atlantic. Bugatti 57sc atlantic 1938 118 diecast by autoart my. The eb 118 has a longitudinal rib that echoes the atlantics longitudinal body seam. Autoblog visits the 1936 bugatti type 57sc atlantic at the.
Half of the in existence photo via richardowen bugatti type 57 the bugatti chiron has a mindboggling 8 liter engine with a rated output of nearly 1500 horsepower and poundfeet of torque. Today, we look at the great 1936 bugatti type 57sc atlantic, a beautiful blue wonder as captured by our friends at autoblog. Just as in ettore bugattis day, the models were presented in the racing colours of the countries that competed in motorsports at that time. Eight decades ago, bugatti built a quartet of bugatti type 57sc atlantics, only. Ironically, one variant the type 57 atlantic coupe is among the rarest and most valuable automobiles in the world. Just two supercharged type 57sc cars were built new, but most 57s owners wanted the additional power afforded by the blower. The type 57 sc atlantic coupe may well be 80 years old, but now its one of most expensive classic cars in existance. Review of the bugatti affair i read the book with great interest. As you may have noticed during the history lesson, bugatti has been tweeting about.
The name returned to the history book until the volkswagen group purchased it in. Apparently, it had been hit by a train back in the 1950s, wrecked and rebuilt. A journey through 110 years of bugatti history autocar. Bugatti type 57 sc atlantic coupe theories abound on what happened to the car, but none have led to finding the lost atlantic coupe. Some stumbling around on the web led to the realization that a chevrolet s10 pickup 2wd long bed is a very close match for the wheelbase and track. He was the son of carlo bugatti, who created museumquality furniture in art deco style.
Later, i learned that the car i saw in paris was controversial. Ralph laurens bugatti type 57 sc at concorso delegenza villa deste the bugatti type 57 and later variants including the famous atlantic and atalante was an entirely new design by jean bugatti, son of founder ettore. Bugatti reminds us of the story of legendary type 57 sc. Top 10 most expensive and rarest bugatti all of time 1. The blower increased horsepower from 175 hp to 200 hp. Barrie price is chairman of the bugatti trust, proprietor of a. Perhaps the most beautiful and exotic and certainly the most expensive automobile in history is the bugatti type 57sc atlantic. This bugatti type 57sc is famous in its own right, having earned the best of show at the 2003 pebble beach concours delegance. French automaker bugatti built roughly 800 type 57s from 1934 to 1940, making the model its most popular. It quickly became the defining quirk of the bugatti aerolithes design, and became so well known that the riveted ridges were carried over to the bugatti type 57sc atlantic road cars that were. Even though the financial crisis is still biting the automotive world around the globe, three months ago the record books were opened for the most impressive car. Each one of the four cars came with their own unique detailing.