Worlds Most Expensive Classic Car
The Bugatti 57SC Atlantic is the worlds most expensive classic car. Only four of these rare and glamorous cars were ever made and many people believe that it is one of the most stunning supercars ever created. Sadly, only two of them are known to still be around today. One of them belongs to the fashion tycoon Ralph Lauren and is currently residing in his private collection. The other belonged to the late Dr. Peter Williamson. Dr. Peter Williamson was an avid fan of Bugatti classics and purchased the car on auction from a Bob Oliver of Los Angeles in 1971. Williamson then restored the timeless classic to its original glamorous state. After his passing, the car was auctioned off to an undisclosed buyer and for an undisclosed amount. However, reliable sources place the sale to have been between $30-$40 million. Making it the most expensive classic car ever sold.
The Bugatti 57SC Atlantic is considered by many to be the most beautiful pre-war car to ever roll of the finish line. Some of the more unique features of the super car include flowing coupe lines and an aggressive dorsal seam running from the front to the back. The dorsal seam was first introduced in the Aerolithe concept car of 1935 because of technical reasons, however management decided to keep the trademark dorsal seam because of the stunning elegance it lent the automobile. The worlds most expensive car was designed to have a low menacing stance, a powerful engine and a lightweight body. It was also one of the first cars designed with a tear drop shaped body. Jean Bugatti is said to have personally styled the Atlantic. The heavily raked windscreen, riveted fins and kidney-shaped doors were, for the time, significant and influential innovations. It could be said that the worlds most expensive classic car was also the worlds first super car.
The result was more than just an example excellent of engineering, the Bugatti became a glamorous and timelessly elegant work of art. The model in question was built in 1936 at the request of Lord Philippe de Rothschild of London. Over the years it changed hands several times. The worlds most expensive car underwent several cosmetic changes during its lifetime; including the installation of a supercharger in 1939, which turned it into a true Type 57SC Atlantic. Williamson unveiled it for the first time in 2003 at the Pebble Beach Concour dElegance, where unsurprisingly the car won first prize. The worlds most expensive car was auctioned off in May 2010 to the undisclosed buyer, it is still available for public viewing in the Mulin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California.
Image courtesy of Bugatti
