Born into a family of artists, Ettore Bugatti is well known as one of the greatest men to ever form an automotive manufacturer. His thorough sense of beauty, style, and attention to detail is what made cars from the Bugatti marque truly stand out from the crowd of Alfa Romeos, Mercedes-Benz and an automotive icon, Duesenberg.
Ettore and his son, Jean, produced some truly memorable automobiles, appreciated for their incredible build quality and references to the family's artistic heritage. Among the best of them were derivatives from the Type 57 range. This was Bugatti's most successful road car to date, gaining more popularity than the Veyron and Chiron, with around 800 produced in total.
The most desirable of them all was the aerodynamic Type 57SC Atlantic. Selling for nearly $30 million at auction in 2009, it remained the most expensive car ever sold for several years, eventually beaten by a Ferrari 250 GTO at an estimated $52 million.
Here is why this incredible motorcar is so expensive.
The Type 57 Was Jean Bugatti's Best Work
Whereas Ettore Bugatti founded the company, it would be Jean who would lead the development and production of some of their finest creations – unlike modern Bugattis which, some may say, haven't aged that well.
The Type 41 Royale emphasized engineering prowess with a glorious flair. And the Type 57 Tank racers would go on to win Le Mans in 1937 and 1939, being the last manufacturer to win the famous endurance race before the Second World War. And maybe in the modern era, they could recreate that with the new Bolide?
Jean was the father of the Type 57 too, including the Atlantic. It's swooping lines and aerodynamic ethos quickly established the car as an icon when revealed to the world in 1936. The two-piece riveted body was its signature look and demonstrated Jean's creativity in the most fabulous of ways.
It Emphasized Bugatti's Artistic Approach To Car Production
As mentioned, Bugattis were widely different from any other car on the road. Prior to Ettore's career, the Bugatti family were primarily artists, and that talent is evident whenever you get up close to one – especially a Type 57SC Atlantic.
From the quality of the materials to the sculpture of the bodywork, this car is as close as you can get to an oil painting with number plates. Everything you see and touch was clearly inspired by the family's artistic heritage, and Jean really wanted to ensure that the few lucky customers could see that.
This approach to car production should not get confused with actual art cars – which represent an entirely different concept.
Only Four Were Ever Made – With One Missing Since 1938
Just three out of the four Atlantics survived, each belonging to exceedingly wealthy collectors – including fashion designer, Ralph Lauren, who has an extensive collection. He restored his car from a vibrant blue to black, referencing the car that has the most fascinating tale in the automotive world.
"La Voiture Noir" (the black car) was effectively the development test bed for the Type 57SC Atlantic, driven by Jean himself along with a select few friends. It was never sold to the public, and by the looks of it, it probably never will.
When Germany invaded France in the Second World War, Ettore didn't want them to take his creations, nor even glimpse them. Apparently, he loaded the black Atlantic onto a train set for the French town of Bordeaux later in the year. But that train never arrived, and the car has been missing ever since.
There are several theories, which range from the Germans confiscating the car and destroying it, to Ettore secretly storing the car away in a secure location only known to him – a secret that he would take to his grave. But still, Bugatti did replace it with a brand new "La Voiture Noir" – which is also pretty expensive.
If the missing car was ever found, it would be worth an estimated figure of over $100 million.
It Was The Most Desirable Car Of Its Time
The 1930s was a wash of truly great automobiles; from the Duesenberg SJ to the Bentley Speed Six – the latter can be ordered new, by the way. But the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic was the most desirable of them all. It incorporated everything that was great about the industry at the time and trounced the competition – if it had any.
Like many cars at the time, it came with a supercharger. The blower fed a 3.3-liter straight-eight with around 200 hp – which was a serious amount at the time. It had a top speed of circa 120 mph in an era when horse-drawn carts were still fairly prominent on European roads.
Along with its gorgeous styling, the Type 57SC Atlantic proved to be the most desirable car you ever get behind the wheel of, and the lucky owners have understandably kept them for a very long time – meaning that whenever they occasionally come up for sale, they tend to be expensive. A Bugatti 57SC Atlantic is undoubtedly worth more than the most expensive current cars on sale.
Sources: Bugatti, Get Jerry