Eyes widen and jaws drop when a car fetches a six-figure price at an auction. But when the bid reaches seven figures, it becomes even more astounding. However, there are only a few cars that have achieved a value in the eight-figure range, and one of them is the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. In fact, the last one to head for auction in 2010 managed to sell for over $30 million, even as the world was just starting to recover from the global financial crisis.
In a recent episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage,” Jay Leno delved into what makes the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic so special. The car featured in the episode is actually a replica that Leno has owned for 30 years. It is built on a Bugatti chassis and powered by a Bugatti engine.
But what sets the Type 57SC Atlantic apart from other cars is its rarity. Bugatti only built four of these beautifully designed coupes between 1936 and 1938, and they remain the crown jewels of Bugatti production cars. The decision to create the Type 57SC Atlantic came from Jean Bugatti, the son of Ettore Bugatti, who wanted to modernize the company’s vehicle lineup.
Rather than producing many different models, Jean chose to develop one car with different variants. This decision led to the creation of the Type 57, which included the Galibier sedan, Stelvio convertible, Ventoux two-door sedan, and Atalante coupe. By the time production ended in 1940, Bugatti had produced a total of 800 Type 57 vehicles.
Related Post
However, the Type 57SC Atlantic was no ordinary car. Jean Bugatti developed it from the Aérolith prototype that was built in 1935. The car’s body was made of aluminum and its design included rivets, which paid homage to the Atlantic prototype made from aviation materials. To honor his friend Jean Mermoz, who disappeared on a South Atlantic aviation journey in 1936, Jean named the coupe the Atlantic.
One of the most striking features of the Type 57SC Atlantic is its impossibly long hood, which conceals a powerful 197-horsepower 3.3-liter inline-6 engine. In an era when horse-drawn carriages were being replaced by more modern automobiles like the Ford Model T, the idea of a car with 197 hp was unimaginable. The Atlantic could also achieve a top speed of over 125 mph, making it exceptionally fast for its time.
Out of the four Type 57SC Atlantics that were built, only three were sold to private customers. The first car, with chassis number 57374, was bought by British banker Victor Rothschild and was the one that went to auction in 2010. The third car, with chassis number 57473, was delivered to Jacques Holzschuh of France. Unfortunately, this car was involved in a collision with a train, resulting in its complete destruction. However, it underwent a painstaking restoration, with most of its parts being replaced with new ones. The engine, though, was lost in the accident. The fourth car, with chassis number 57591, was purchased by R.B. Pope of Britain and is now owned by fashion designer Ralph Lauren.
The second production model, with chassis number 57453, remains a mystery. This car, which was originally painted black, was built by Jean Bugatti for himself and was often lent out to Bugatti racing drivers. While there are photos of the car in promotional materials, there is no record of the car’s whereabouts after 1938. Bugatti believes that it may have been sold to one of Jean’s racing friends, but another possibility is that the car was hidden during the German invasion of France in World War II. To this day, the car has not been found, but it served as inspiration for Bugatti’s one-off La Voiture Noire.
In conclusion, the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic is a car that commands attention and admiration due to its rarity, exquisite design, and remarkable performance for its time. With only four ever built, its value is unparalleled, reaching into the eight-figure range. Whether it’s being sold at an auction or showcased in an episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage,” the Type 57SC Atlantic continues to captivate car enthusiasts and collectors around the world.
