Is Bugatti About to Bring Back the Most Valuable Car in the World?

Only three Type 57SC Atlantics exist. For now ...

March 1, 2019 9:00 am

Eight decades ago, Bugatti built a quartet of Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantics, only three of which continue to make beautiful automotive music today. Created between 1936 and 1938, those three remaining 57SC Atlantics — chassis No. 57374, 57473 57591 — are regarded as some of the most valuable cars in the world.

The fourth, No. 57453, would be as well … had it not gone missing following the death of its original owner, Jean Bugatti himself.

Distinguishable thanks to its extremely long hood, the 12-foot-long Atlantic coupé was developed from a unique prototype which was known as the Coupé Special and Coupé Aero. With a riveted aluminum seam running over the roof as another signature design feature, the trio of remaining Type 57SC Atlantics have shown well at events like the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California.

“The breathtaking proportions of this masterpiece were simply unparalleled at the time, and are still thrilling to the present day with their elegance,” said Bugatti design director Achim Anscheidt.

Known as the “Holzschuh Atlantic,” chassis No. 57473 was sold to Parisian businessman Jacques Holzschuh when it first left Bugatti’s factory. After Holzschuh sold the car to a collector, the second owner died in an accident and the Bugatti was completely destroyed. Years later, it underwent a complex restoration, although the original engine — which was capable of hitting 124 mph — could not be saved.

Chassis no. 57591 was built for British barrister and tennis star Richard Pope. Delivered in May 1938, the car was returned a year later so it could be fitted with a supercharger. Sold to Ralph Lauren in 1988, the coupe was restored to its factory-delivered appearance and went on to take top honors at Pebble Beach in 1990 and again at Villa d’Este in 2013.

Delivered to Victor Rothschild in 1936, chassis No. 57374 was driven around in its original condition until it was returned to the marque’s factory in Molsheim so a supercharger could be installed. Fast forward to 1971 and the car sold for a jaw-dropping $59,000, at the time making it the most expensive automobile in the world. It is still quite close to holding that title, as chassis No. 57374 was last sold in 2010 for a whopping $40 million.

As you may have noticed during the history lesson, Bugatti has been tweeting about the 80-year-old car fairly regularly. Why?

It looks like they are considering bringing it — or a version, at least — back. After agreeing to build a one-off Type 57SC Atlantic for former Volkswagen Group chairman Dr. Ferdinand Piëch at a cost of $18 million, Bugatti appears to be considering reintroducing the model in general.

Considering the prices noted above, that move could be a big boost for Bugatti’s bottom line, even if the marque only limited the run of new Type 57SC Atlantics to a few models. Bugatti is still holding its cards close to the hood, but the automaker seems to be teasing that a  new Type 57SC Atlantic is coming down the pike.

“The Atlantic is among the icons in Bugatti’s long tradition,” said Bugatti president Stephan Winkelmann. “In terms of elegance, quality and performance, the coupé was unique in its time and is still unique today. A luxury super sports car. For us, it is both an inspiration and a commitment.”

And hopefully, an endeavor from the distant past which will be returning in the near future.

All images via Bugatti

Win the Ultimate Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix Experience

Want the F1 experience of a lifetime? Here’s your chance to win tickets to see Turn 18 Grandstand, one of Ultimate Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix’s most premier grandstands!