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Check Out This Amazingly Rare 1938 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Coupé

Imagine what it would be like to be the owner of one of the most prestigious automobiles that has ever been made. If that's not enough to get your attention, consider how it might feel to be the proud owner of one of the rarest automobiles in history, especially when that same automobile has competed in auto shows around the country and won Best in Class. As it turns out, you have the opportunity to become the owner of such a fine example of automotive workmanship, provided you can shell out the cash required to pay for it. In September, Worldwide Auctioneers is planning to auction off one of the most astonishing and rarest automobiles ever constructed, a 1938 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Coupé.

An Automobile Like No Other

Any Bugatti of this type would be enough to get the attention of even the most exacting car collector, but this particular example is even more special. As previously mentioned, it has won Best in Class before, mainly at the prestigious Pebble Beach automobile show. It is truly one of the finest examples of a classic automobile that anyone is likely to ever set their eyes on. As such, there isn't a car lover alive that wouldn't love to get their hands on it. After all, it is one of the loveliest looking examples of an era that has long since passed, one where Bugatti practically ruled in its particular class. It's also worth noting that this particular car underwent a complete restoration only a few short years ago. Prior to it winning that Best in Class category at Pebble Beach, it was restored from the frame up in 2016. That makes it practically brand new. This fact, coupled with the fact that it has long been one of the most sought-after examples of a 1930s era Bugatti in the world, means that there will likely be a great deal of competition to see who finally gets to take it home when the auction takes place over the course of September 3rd and 4th.

The Word Rare Is An Understatement

People have a tendency to throw the word rare around a lot these days. It almost seems like the moment someone claims that something is rare, virtually everyone else is clamoring to get a hold of it because they're afraid that someone else might actually have something that they don't have. However, it is true that this is indeed one of the rarest automobiles ever made. In fact, there were only 17 examples of this particular body style that were manufactured in the first place. That means that this particular automobile has always been a collector's item, even from the day that it was first driven after being manufactured. Considering the fact that it was built in the late 1930s, it's even more poignant today. If you stop and think about it, it's easy to understand why.

The car is 83 years old this year. In a world where people tend to throw everything away as opposed to hanging onto things of value, the car has come to represent more than solid workmanship. In fact, it even represents more than any collector could ever hope for. It completely defies the way that people typically live their lives today, where things are manufactured in bulk and then purchased with the intention of being thrown away the minute that the slightest thing goes wrong. Instead, this is a car that defies all of that, reminding everyone who sees it that there was once an era where things were made because quality was appreciated. The car was never designed to be a cookie-cutter example, but to be something that would stand out from the crowd at first glance. All these years later, it is still doing exactly that.

An Example Of Automotive History

This car truly is one of the finest examples of automotive history to ever exist. Its first owner kept it for 13 years. From there, it went into the hands of a French collector where it would stay for many more years. Eventually, the car would be featured in a book dedicated to the most prestigious examples of Bugatti that were still in existence, eventually making its way to the Schlumberger collection in France. From there, it was purchased by an individual collector in North America. After being shipped over, the car was completely rebuilt from the chassis up, including its unique roll back roof. It has one of the most unique systems to ever exist, one in which the roof rolls backward in the center, leaving the support pillars on either side standing in place. It gives drivers the feeling of operating a convertible without the need to incorporate a soft top or a hardtop that must be manually removed. It's one of the more creative ways to drive in the open air, providing all of the positive aspects of having a convertible without any of the drawbacks.

To compliment its outstanding appearance, the car also has plenty of speed. Surprisingly, it can easily reach a top speed of just over 120 miles per hour. That is quite a surprise, considering the fact that when it was built, there was virtually no other car that could even reach half that speed. Thanks to the addition of a supercharger, this particular example can go even faster than most Bugatti’s of its type. How much will all of this class and speed bring at auction? Worldwide Auctioneers don't typically publish estimates for their items. However, the last Bugatti of this type that was sold went to a different auction house just last year. It sold for $10.4 million. This particular example has an even more storied history, so there is a chance that it could bring even more money at next month’s auction. Only time will tell, but what an exciting time it will be.

Benjamin Smith

Written by Benjamin Smith

Benjamin Smith is one of the managing editors of Moneyinc. Ben's been focusing on the auto and motorcycle sector since 2005. He's written over 1000 articles in the space and continues to learn about it each day. His favorite car is "any Bugatti" and he's a die hard Harley Davidson fan.

Read more posts by Benjamin Smith

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