Bought the Farm: barn-find Bugatti Atalante sells for $4.4M
Bugatti Atalantes don't come up for sale very often, so when one unused example was unearthed from the garage of the reclusive late Dr. Harold Carr, enthusiasts and collectors alike stood up and took notice. The rare barn find 1937 Type 57S rolled across the Bonhams "Retromobile" auction block in Paris this weekend as scheduled, where it sold to a European collector for the equivalent of $4.4 million. While that may sound like a chunk of change – and certainly is by most standards, especially in this economy – it's only half of the highest estimates placed on the Bugatti's value upon discovery. You can bet that, after decades of neglect, its new owner will put in another hefty sum to have it restored to pristine quality before it starts hitting the concours circuit around the world. Thanks to Zack for the tip.
[Source: AOL]
Gallery: 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante
[Source: AOL]












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
James 12:20PM (2/08/2009)
"...The rare barn find 1937 Type 57S rolled across the Bonhams "Retromobile" auction block in Paris this weekend as scheduled, where it sold to a European collector for the equivalent of $4.4 million..."
"X" marks the spot!
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Steve 12:22PM (2/08/2009)
I would never restore that car. I would keep it just the way it is. It shows wear and tear, and it shows that it was used. I think it's meant to be the way it is, and I hate to think of it being stripped and restored to it's original luster...
It would be like tearing off the skin of a beautiful middle aged woman, only to apply young looking skin cause you think she needs it.
This car doesn't deserve that, it deserves to stay the way it is.
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Farris 12:32PM (2/08/2009)
Agreed x1000. Leave the patina.
Rich 4:20PM (2/08/2009)
Errr... no. You're wrong.
It looks like a dusty old umbrella. Restored, it would look like a car. Admittedly not a very good looking one, but at least it wouldn't be at risk of being opened up when it starts to rain.
jim 10:15PM (2/08/2009)
Clean it, polish it and get it running. Restoration is fine for a rusted bucket of bolts or a car of relatively small value, but this Bug is special.
A few years ago a pre-war Mercedes turned up, and SSK I believe, in similar condition. The then new owner promised to preserve it. I wonder if he did.
ron 12:42PM (2/08/2009)
Leaving it "as is" is most likely the right thing to do, but it would drive me nuts not to restore it to as new/better than new condition! In that regard I'm sorta like MONK on tv - would go insane if it wasn't just perfect!
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RX-8 SS 1:15PM (4/14/2009)
I have to agree, the current advice is to leave them as you find them. BUT the physical components keep deteriorating as they age, it may increase in collector value but it won't improve in condition, that old leather interior will just continue to flake and crack and any rust or corrosion will keep spreading as rubber parts continue to rot. Doing nothing means that even under the best storage conditions it will become undrivable, if it isn't already, which I feel would be an insult to a fine old automobile.
AMcA 1:13PM (2/08/2009)
These days, that car WILL NOT be restored. Original condition is very much the big thing, these days.
Autoblog, whoever is covering classics for you needs to get current on these trends. Start by reading "It's Only Original Once".
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casey 2:08PM (2/08/2009)
i hope they DON'T restore it. this car is a time capsule, it shows the way Ettore built it. wash it, use Q-tips to remove the grime if you have to, but don't repaint it, don't give it a mirror-like Pebble Beach finish. it's a gem the way it is. i own lots of antiques, furniture, not cars, and you can only have the original finish on them ONCE. there is something about looking at the exact paint that someone applied 200 years ago that tickles me. i can't tell you how many people look at my stuff and tell me how good they'd look 'refinished' it's sad more people don't appreciate patina.
leave the car alone.
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energystrom 2:28PM (2/08/2009)
I'd say restore to a certain point. I would definitely not advocate restoring it to a "like-new" condition, but I would clean it up to the point where it is not degenerating further.
Fooman 2:57PM (2/08/2009)
The side view and rear view of this car are the most amazing shots in car design. The type 57 drop head that Ralph Lauren has to match his Atlantic coupe is also just as stunning.
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Scotty B 5:18PM (2/08/2009)
I suppose if we had spent over 4 million, we could do whatever we wanted with the car...as will this guy.
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Mick 8:55PM (2/08/2009)
Why is the car so very dusty, yet everything else in the shed is not?
Looks like someone emptied a bag of flour over it.
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VW JUNKY 8:40AM (2/09/2009)
Reminds me of an Antique road show episode. Some guy spent thousands of dollars on a piece of furniture to take off the old paint and "resort it like new" The appraiser looked at it and said it was a fine job and that you could just catch some of the original paint on it in a few spots. Valued the piece at $15000. IF they had left the original paint on it it would have been worth $50,000! The owner just about had a heart attack! LOL! In this cars case if it were untouched and not a rust bucket they should leave the Patina and just redo the mechanics. The car won't see rain again anyway but to have it near original is to leave as much alone as possible. But of course the owner can do anything they want.
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RX-8 SS 12:55PM (4/14/2009)
lets see now. strip it and repaint it in a flashier color...gut the interior and redo it in suede and new corinthian leather... dump the old tires and tired wire wheels and and replace them with lo profile modern ones... a small block chevy engine with turbo might fit...retro glass pack muffler... a 2 thousand watt 14 speaker stereo for the trunk space...and raise the back and lower the front end a little, and definitely dump the rear fender skirts for a better look.
seriously though, the old timers got these beauties, and we get "cubes" and Scions, why is it that there are so few new designs such an Alfa 8c competizion. I've always liked this auto design plus the 37/38 Talbot short tails.
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