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Rusty car sells for over $850k
Click image for photo gallery of the Bugatti in Greenwich
Don't go quoting us on this, but this has got to be one of the most expensive barn finds we've ever seen. Christie's sold this 1938 Bugatti for a staggering $852,500 at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance earlier this summer, more than twice the highest pre-sale estimate and close to the price of a new Bugatti.
The car was admitted to the Pebble Beach preservation class, and when its new owner gets it up to spec, it'll undoubtedly be the beauty it once was. The 1938 Type 57C you see here is actually a bit of an amalgamation of two Bugattis that were both owned by the same pre-war collector. The chassis itself belonged to a Type 57 Stelvio cabriolet with bodywork by Gangloff, a coachbuilder based in Colmar near the Bugatti factory in Molsheim in the French region of Alsace. In time for display at the French pavilion at the 1939 World's Fair in New York, the body was switched for that of the Type 57C Atalante (not to be confused with the more rare and iconic Atlantic).
Now of course there's value in classics, but as far as vintage motorcarriages go, this one's in pretty bad shape. Having sat in storage since 1962, the paint is chipped and faded, the chrome is rusty, the tires are history, the engine's grimy and the leather is worn out. A handyman's dream, let's call it. An $850k handyman's dream.
[Source: AutoWeek, Photos: Alex Nunez]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
500 8:08PM (7/26/2007)
Still in much better shape than the Tulsa time capsule '57 Plymouth. They should've just hidden it in a barn somewhere...
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letstakeawalk 1:32AM (7/27/2007)
three cheers for sitting above the water table!
C 10:10PM (7/26/2007)
If you've got $850k to drop on a car from 1938 (meaning it's unlikely to be driven very regularly), it hardly matters if you have to drop another chunk of change to get it going. In fact, you'd probably be thinking that will earn you some cred at the country club.
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Jaymez 8:46PM (7/26/2007)
Far better looking than the Veyron.
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Jon 9:53PM (7/26/2007)
And you are how old?
Richard owen 8:54PM (7/26/2007)
I saw this Bugatti when it was sold for $852,500 two months ago and it is wasn't rusty.
You've posted much more expensive barn finds on Autloblog, seach 166 MM.
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Richard owen 8:56PM (7/26/2007)
I saw this Bugatti when it was sold for $852,500 two months ago and it wasn't rusty I mean.
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Dave K 9:06PM (7/26/2007)
I hope whoever buys this to restore isn't going to need to track down a lot of spare parts.
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nom de plume 10:18PM (7/26/2007)
That is one gorgeous car.
You have to love French cars. Buggati, Avions Voisin, Talbot-Lago, Delage, Delage... Is there any question that the French not only invented the automobile, but also made the finest examples? I would be happy to have only French cars for life. Viva la France!
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Devynn 11:03AM (7/29/2007)
the french DID NOT invite the automobile. and if they have such fine examples of it, how come we only hear about what the german's and italians are churning out on the luxe scale?
nom de plume 1:22PM (7/29/2007)
Devynn, I see that you knowledge of Automotive history is as finely honed as your spelling. In November 1881 French inventor Gustave Trouvé demonstrated the first working automobile. This was at the International Exhibition of Electricity in Paris.
As to the second part of your question, perhaps you only hear about cars for overgrown middle school boys and toys for the nouveau riche. The popular automotive media, like the mainstream media in general, is geared toward the ignorant, toward those lacking the intellectual curiosity to read about and research things in depth.
Nickle 6:10AM (7/30/2007)
The history of the automobile dates back to the 15th century where Da Vinci was creating designs and models. Exactly who invented the first automobile is debatable. Cugnot of France made the first steam military tractor in 1769. Anderson of Scotland made an electric carriage in 1832. Trouvé in 1881 used an outboard boat motor to make a car. And the first true gasoline automobile was in 1885 in Germany by Benz.
And as for your pretentious attitude towards Devynn, perhaps you yourself should actually research and enlighten your mind before insulting others.
Barney 11:03PM (7/26/2007)
Who ever got it will be expecting more then double on the return.
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MK 11:22PM (7/26/2007)
I've got two words for you: Jay. Leno.
I'm willing to bet that he bought this one.
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Peter 1:01AM (7/27/2007)
> pretty bad shape
Huh? You've never seen bad shape. Of course it will need work, but it's complete and seems to be in very reasonable condition. It's a 70 year old car for crying out loud, and you're worried about faded piant and worn leather??? They don't all look like those at Pebble Beach and they aren't supposed to. Let's hope the new owner doesn't turn this one into one of those overrestored caricatures...
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letstakeawalk 1:35AM (7/27/2007)
It's in better condition than my '72 Opel GT, that's for sure...
Rene Curry 7:56AM (7/27/2007)
Just think if the wrong person found this car in a barn. It would definitely have a small block Chevy!
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Adam 9:28AM (7/27/2007)
I am suprised that who ever found it didn't keep it. Yeah the resto is expensive but to own a Bugatti is a dream. Atleast for us stateside. Okay maybe just for me!
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sean lawrence 1:51PM (7/27/2007)
I can't comment on the price, but it is a complete car with only cosmetic problems.
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sean lawrence 1:51PM (7/27/2007)
I can't comment on the price, but it is a complete car with only cosmetic problems.
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