Rare Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Found in Garage in England, To Be Auctioned in Paris

I would have loved the be the recipient of a rare 1937 Bugatti supercar. Well, it turns out that the rare vehicle has been found in a garage in England and is expected to draw a record price when it is auctioned in Paris next month.

The Type 57S Atalante was left by a UK physician in his will this week. The incredible 1937 Bugatti left to the doctor’s nieces and nephews is expected to reach up to $8.75 million at auction. According to the UK Telegraph, the car was left in a garage willed to the man’s relatives without indicating what was inside. Along with the Bugatti, they found an E-Type Jaguar and and undisclosed type of Aston Martin, said the Telegraph.

The incredible finds were completely unexpected by the family. Built as a modified version of the standard Type 57, the Type 57S Atalante was lower, more powerful and even rarer – only 17 of them were ever made. A yet rarer variant – the Type 57SC, for supercharged – was also made, but only two such cars were built by Bugatti from the factory.

Many 57S owners later had the superchargers, which could boost output as high as 200hp (149kW), installed by the factory in Molsheim. The standard 57S, like that pictured above, still generated a substantial 175hp (130kW), enough to propel the car to about 130mph, and the Atalante was a unique variant with elements drawn from the 1935 Aerolithe concept car, including aluminum body panels among other innovations. The newly found Bugatti will go on sale at Bonham’s auction house on February 7.

The dusty but intact Bugatti Type 57S Atalante is one of only 17 ever made. It had a top speed of 130 mph (209 kph) at a time when most cars could only go half as fast. The powerful two-seater car from the heyday of the celebrated Bugatti marquee. Source: Motor Authority

The vehicle was apparently hidden away in the garage of an elderly doctor who last used it around 1960. His relatives found it after his death. British race car driver Earl Howe was the car’s first owner.

Filed under: Auction, Bugatti Type 57S Atalante, Dr. Rowan Williams, Rare Vehicles, United Kingdom