1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic aka the world’s most expensive car is on display
Ever wanted to know what the world's most expensive car is? Bugatti Veyron, maybe a tailor-made Ferrari of some sort? Nope, it's probably more likely to be this 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. It sold for US$30-40 million at auction recently.
The car was bought in May by an unknown bidder and has since been stowed, presumably, somewhere highly secure. The Mullin Automotive Museum however is proud to announce it has been given the opportunity to display the car as one if the exhibits. It will go on display for a limited time starting this week.
Only four of these cars were ever made and only two of them are said to still exist today. This one was bought by Dr. Peter Williamson in 1971 for $59,000... quite a profitable investment it turns out, then. The car took part in the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance event and easily won the Best of Show award.
Originally bought in 1936 by Lord (of course) Victor Rothschild of London. He ordered the car in the light blue colour and opted for dark blue upholstery trimmings. Lord Victor wanted more power from the twin-cam 3.3-litre though, so he sent it back to Bugatti in 1939 to have a supercharger bolted on, taking the power output from 130kW to 150kW.
Lord Victor then sold the car to Bob Oliver who then sold it for a record-breaking amount of $59,000 in 1971 to Dr. Peter Williamson. Quite a modest history for a car of such high caliber. Peter Mullin, founder of the Museum, said recently,
"I am honored to have the opportunity to display the Bugatti Atlantic at our Art Deco museum. The Art Deco Movement was driven by people who were fascinated by invention and innovation - by the exotic nature of new technology and materials, by art and design, by speed and by the machine - no automobile captures this spirit more than the Bugatti Atlantic. In the historic pantheon of automobiles the Atlantic is without peer."
The Museum is situated in Oxnard, California, USA. If you're in the area.
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