Bugatti Type 57S Atalante (57502)

Bugatti Type 57S Atalante (57502)

The Bugatti Type 57S Atalante number 57502 is one of a batch of rare French sports coupe automobiles built in 1937 by the Bugatti company, a version of the Bugatti Type 57. Of the 710 Type 57 cars built, only 43 were Type 57S and only 17 of those were produced with the in-house Bugatti Atalante coupe body style (termed coachwork), (not to be confused with the Type 57 Atlantic body).

The car with chassis number 57502 (registration EWS 73, ex-DYK 5, ex-works-1127-W5) was rediscovered in 2008 having been stored in a private owner's garage in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, for 48 years, with few people aware of its location. Described as "one of the last great barn discoveries" by classic car experts, it was sold at auction by Bonhams on 7 February 2009. Set at a reserve price of £3 million, due to its low mileage and original condition, it was speculated that it could become the most expensive car ever sold at auction, at around £6 million. These hopes were dashed, however, as it reached £2,989,495 (US$4,408,575).

The car was bought originally by the 5th Earl Howe in 1937 who owned it for eight years. It passed to three intermediate owners, when in 1955 it was bought by Harold Carr, from Newcastle upon Tyne. He drove it for a few years, before storing it in his lock up garage in 1960, where it was discovered by his family after his death in 2007.