1939 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Coupe

From 1937 through 1940, there were 95 examples of the Type 57C produced. The original names for Jean Bugatti's cars were originally sourced from the Alpine passes (Stelvio, Galibier, Ventoux); it is unclear why he ventured away from this naming scheme. Perhaps the most striking was the Atalante Coupe, with its beautiful streamlined bodywork and its dramatic shape that appeared to have been shaped by the wind.

The Atalante was unveiled in April 1935. It was a breathtaking vehicle with one of its key features being the lack of running boards.

This 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante Coupe was delivered in naturally aspirated form on April 4th, 1938 to one of Bugatti's Sechaud agents in Geneva, Switzerland. The first owner is unknown; the second owner was the renowned collector Monsieur Charles Renaud of Neuchatel. By this point in history (around the early 1950s), it had been upgraded to C specifications by the factory in Molsheim.

In the early 1960s, it was in the United States, owned by Michael Strater in Berkeley, California. The car was later purchased by Dr. Peter and Susan Williamson, who commissioned Bunny Phillips to begin a complete restoration. Additional work was performed by Don Lefferts during the 1990s.

The car is finished in red with a black accent and brown leather interior. The car has benefited from several modern upgrades including hydraulic brakes and a rubber-mounted engine. The body is number 25 which can be found throughout the vehicle.

In 2008, this extremely rare Type 57C Atalante Coupe was brought to the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, CA. It was estimated to sell for $900,000 - $1,200,000 and offered without a reserve. It was sold for a staggering $880,000, including the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2009