Autoblog

Ralph Lauren car collection going on exhibit in Paris

Zach Bowman — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Bentley, Bugatti, Jaguar, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo

1955 Jaguar XKD - Click above for high-res image gallery

The public is getting a chance to slather its eyeballs all over a few choice gems from fashion designer Ralph Lauren's personal automotive collection. The Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris is planning to exhibit some of the more shining examples of automotive history and design from the Lauren collection from April 28 to August 28, and the crew over at Luxist have managed to get a sneak peek at what exactly will be on display. Visitors to the museum can look forward to seeing a quartet of luscious metal that includes a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Scaglietti, a 1956/1958 Jaguar XKS and a 1931 Alfa Romeo Monza 8C 2300.

Deep breath.

In addition to those lovely ladies, a total of 13 other Lauren vehicles will be on display as a part of the exhibit, titled The Art of the Automobile: Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection. Those include two of the world's most expensive vehicles: a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO and a 1938 Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic Coupe. Both of those pieces are worth an estimated $30-$40 million each.

Gallery: Ralph Lauren Collection

[Source: Luxist]

Ralph Lauren car collection going on exhibit in Paris originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ralph Lauren designs a wristwatch to match his Bugatti Atlantic

Noah Joseph — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Bugatti, Design/Style

Ralph Lauren Sporting Watch - Click above for high-resolution images

There are plenty of watches out there that try to emulate one car or another, but it takes something truly unique to accompany a car like a Bugatti. For its part, Parmigiani Fleurier has had at it a couple of times with timepieces matched to Molsheim's latest, but to run with a car as coveted and prized as the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, really only one brand would be up to the task: Ralph Lauren.

Everyone from fashionistas to holiday shoppers know Ralph Lauren as a clothing label, but automotive enthusiasts like ourselves know him as the proud owner of one of the most delectable classic car collections the world has ever known. Once in a while, Mr. Lifshitz (as he's still known back in The Bronx) puts his two passions together to create something special. Last time it was a luggage collection inspired by Ferrari. This time it's a watch to go with his '38 Bugatti.

The latest in Lauren's Sporting Watch collection is styled after the interior of the Atlantic, with an elm burl wood ring emulating the car's dashboard, galvanized matte black dial with white Arabic numerals like the Bugatti's gauges, and visible screws around the case front recalling the rivets along the Atlantic's spine. The movement is crafted for Ralph Lauren by the Richemont group - the same company that makes Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai and IWC, to name just a few - and features a 45-hour power reserve.

All in all, one of the classier ways we've seen to wear your car on your wrist, but at $13,200, we'll try not to like it too much.

Gallery: Bugatti-inspired Sporting Watch from Ralph Lauren

[Source: Ralph Lauren Watches]

Ralph Lauren designs a wristwatch to match his Bugatti Atlantic originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: This is what $38 million sounds like

Noah Joseph — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Videos, Bugatti

1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic - Click above for high-res image gallery

Want to know what $38 million sounds like? Well you're not likely to find out. That's the reported value of the highly coveted 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic recently sold by Gooding & Company from the Peter Williamson collection. But while we got a rare chance to stop by the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, for an up-close-and-personal between the world's most valuable car and our own Drew Philips, actually seeing it start up and drive would be a rare sight indeed.

Fortunately, onlookers had the chance when the Bugatti came down to the Pasadena Art Center Car Classic and fired up its 3.2-liter straight-eight - lest we forget that this is an actual functioning automobile, and not a stationary sculpture consigned to a pedestal. What's more is that he caught it on camera in a pair of videos after the jump.

Gallery: 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic In Detail

Continue reading Video: This is what $38 million sounds like

Video: This is what $38 million sounds like originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic sells for a record $30+ Million

Noah Joseph — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Bugatti, Earnings/Financials

The Williamson Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic - Click above to enlarge

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful automobiles ever created, it's not every day that a Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic changes hands. Only four of examples were ever made, and only two or three of them are still around today. One is owned by Ralph Lauren, and another belonged to the late Dr. Peter Williamson. Californian auction house Gooding & Company has now announced that the Williamson Bugatti has changed hands for a record sum, and though the buyer and exact amount paid remain undisclosed, reports place it between $30-40 million, easily eclipsing the $12.2 million paid for a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa this time last year.

Until his recent passing, Dr. Williamson had amassed a considerable collection of classic Bugattis. Gooding had helped assemble the collection, and since his passing has helped his estate sell them off. But the Atlantic - the crown jewel of the collection and winner of the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance - was saved for last. According to reports, the car was acquired through Gooding by the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, where we recently went to check out the soon-to-be-rebuilt Bugatti Type 64 Coupe, so with a little luck we might have the opportunity to bring you the Atlantic in due course. Follow the jump for the press release from Gooding.

[Source: Gooding & Company]

Continue reading 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic sells for a record $30+ Million

1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic sells for a record $30+ Million originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 May 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ralph Lauren's Bugatti Atlantic to headline Villa d'Este

Noah Joseph — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Bugatti, Misc. Auto Shows

Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic from the Ralph Lauren Collection - Click for a hi-res gallery

Ralph Lauren's Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic will headline the classic cars assembling for the annual Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este. The ultra-rare coupe, even rarer than the Type 57 Atalante recently unearthed from a garage in England, is one of only three ever built, and will be coming back to Europe for the first time in 18 years. The special appearance of special Bugatti will help the marque celebrate its 100th anniversary this year, and the show its 80th.

While the famous fashion designer's classic Bugatti is sure to garner its fair share of attention among the classic motors on the shores of Lake Como later this month, Bertone, Zagato and Morgan are anticipated to arrive with brand new designs of their own, promising to make this year's Villa d'Este assembly an especially memorable event.

Gallery: Speed, Style and Beauty: The Ralph Lauren Car Collection

[Source: Luxist]

Ralph Lauren's Bugatti Atlantic to headline Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barn Find of the Decade: 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante

Noah Joseph — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Auctions, Bugatti

Click above for image gallery of this rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante

Close your eyes and imagine opening a deserted garage door, only to find a forgotten four-wheeled treasure sitting there in perfect condition. What would it be? We have a feeling we'll get all sorts of answers in the comments section, but for many enthusiasts, the answer would be, without hesitation, the Bugatti Type 57S Atalante. And that's exactly what the children of the late (and appropriately named) Dr. Harold Carr found in their father's garage.

The Atalante is among the most beautiful, the most coveted and the most iconic of Bugattis ever produced. Not to be confused with the even rarer Atlantic, of which only two of the original three remain in existence, the 57S Atalante was made in a limited run of 17 examples, and a quarter of them are housed in a museum in rural France. This one went missing half a century ago, only now to be found again. It was originally owned by Earl Howe, first president of the British Racing Drivers' Club, and changed hands several times before the reclusive Dr. Carr mothballed it. Estimated values for the car are all over the map, with values as high as £6 million (about $8.8M USD) being discussed. Naturally, as rare as it is for a classic like this to change hands, its real value will be determined by how much a well-heeled collector is willing to pay for it when it rolls onto the block in February at Bonhams' "Retromobile" auction in Paris. Follow the jump for all the details.

Gallery: 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante

[Source: UK Telegraph; Bonhams]

Continue reading Barn Find of the Decade: 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante

Barn Find of the Decade: 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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