Rare barn find Bugatti

jaydee · 02-01-2009, 09:16 PM

Bugger, all I found in my Pops shed was tools and a machine gun (which we donated to the war museum in case you were wondering). Apologies if repost, if so please delete mods.

From correspondents in London

January 02, 2009 05:28am
A RARE Bugatti supercar left to gather dust in an English garage for half a century could fetch millions when it goes under the hammer next month.

Experts believe the car - one of just a handful ever made - could fetch as much as £6 million ($12.51 million) when it is auctioned at the Retromobile car show and sale being organised by Bonhams in Paris in February.

Owner Harold Carr apparently abandoned the rare Bugatti in his lock-up in Newcastle after buying it in the 1950s.

When the reclusive surgeon died in 2007, his nephew found the Type 57S Atalante when he cleared out the garage and was amazed to learn that just 17 of the model were ever made.

His nephew, an engineer from Newcastle who wishes to remain anonymous, told the city's Evening Chronicle newspaper: "We just can't believe it.

"It's worth so much because he hasn't used it for 50 years. It was one of the original supercars. When it was built it could reach 210km/h when most cars could only do 50.

"Of course we're delighted and we're going to make sure the money is shared out among the family. It's a wonderful thing to leave."

The Bugatti 57S was originally owned by British aristocrat and racing enthusiast Earl Howe, who was the first president of the British Racing Drivers' Club.

He took delivery of the sporty two-seater Atalante in 1937 and kept the car for eight years.

After it changed hands several times, Mr Carr bought it in 1955 and drove it for a few years before parking it in the garage in the early 1960s, where it remained until his death.

James Knight, international head of Bonhams' motoring department, said: "I have known of this Bugatti for a number of years and, like a select group of others, hadn't dared divulge its whereabouts to anyone.

"It is absolutely one of the last great barn discoveries... The Atalante is incredibly original and, although she requires restoration, it is 'restoration' in the true sense of the word.

"From my perspective, save for some of the interior, all original parts can be restored or conserved in order to maintain originality."

Nikked · 02-01-2009, 09:29 PM

awesome find indeed

Gobes32 · 02-01-2009, 09:49 PM

Good lord, 12 million in today's economy...........

mickyyyy · 02-01-2009, 10:12 PM

Now that is a unreal find

I always wish that something like this happens to me

mr smith · 02-01-2009, 10:18 PM

If it was left to me I would keep it. With the money involved can understand why they want to sell it, but it would be so nice to own.

XR6_190 · 02-01-2009, 10:53 PM

I can understand, why somebody would want to keep it, but realistically the upkeep and maintenence costs of somthing like this would be astronomical, not to mention insurance, I would rather the 12.5 million cash

CFOUR · 02-01-2009, 11:05 PM

step 1- sell
2- buy new bugatti
3- die happy

1970galaxie · 02-01-2009, 11:12 PM

I would have kept the machine gun!

XR6_190 · 02-01-2009, 11:17 PM

really though, it would be like winning lotto, even better though, they didn't even have to buy a ticket

**Captain Stubing** · 02-01-2009, 11:23 PM

I read about this at work this arvo, and found another article about it that mentioned there was also an old Aston Martin and (can't remember the other one!).

Of course I can't find the link right now...

BPXR6T · 03-01-2009, 12:17 AM

No matter how rare and valuable it is, doesn't make it any less ugly.

Unco · 03-01-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPXR6T

No matter how rare and valuable it is, doesn't make it any less ugly.

70 years from now, i'm sure some sensible person will say the same thing about the current late model XR6's.

BPXR6T · 03-01-2009, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unco

70 years from now, i'm sure some sensible person will say the same thing about the current late model XR6's.

I'm ahead of my time, I started thinking that way about the XR6 myself after only 12 months and sold it.

:

XR6_190 · 03-01-2009, 12:53 AM

I don't care how ugly it is, 200km/h in the 1930s is unreal

uranium_death · 03-01-2009, 01:28 AM

Can I have it?

Awesome find. This is a really special find. Glad to see it wasn't left in a field to rust.

axeray · 03-01-2009, 06:21 AM

I would keep it if it was mine.

My grand parents didn't even own a car.

Nikked · 03-01-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPXR6T

No matter how rare and valuable it is, doesn't make it any less ugly.

lol "Ugly"...

I love how on alot of these older cars the chassis (i.e. type 57) was sold and the body was coached (In this case inhouse) built apon it, resluting in many different looking type 57's, those were the days. Twincam Inline 8, built out of aluminium, ahead of it time.

Its also considered one of the most beautiful cars made, and Chrysler built the Atlantic concept car in '93, inspired buy the simmiler Type 57 Atlantic

JD86 · 03-01-2009, 10:46 AM

that is awesome i love reading about barn finds, they facinate me

id sell it though, 12 million will set you up for life and get me a phase 3 a few nice houses, a boat etc.

Sprint XR8 · 03-01-2009, 12:46 PM

Not really a "barn find", if the auctioneer and others knew the car and its wherabouts for many years, the family would have known as well. BS story for the media to publicise the auction.

jaydee · 03-01-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPXR6T

No matter how rare and valuable it is, doesn't make it any less ugly.

But it's still beautiful, look at the classic lines, big rounded arches, long and sleek, remind you of anything?

jaydee · 03-01-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1970galaxie

I would have kept the machine gun!

I would love to have kept it, but with the gun laws if I'd been caught with it could have gone to prison.
I regret not getting it decommissioned now, I could have kept it then.
Ahhh well another one of lifes regrets, the list just gets longer.

BPXR6T · 03-01-2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaydee

But it's still beautiful, look at the classic lines, big rounded arches, long and sleek, remind you of anything?

Think it's one of those cases of beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Hate the concept car too.

MethodX · 03-01-2009, 07:55 PM

A true classic.
Hopefully it doesnt diasapear again, auto history needs to be seen.

**Silver Ghia** · 03-01-2009, 10:39 PM

That RH headlight and housing, doesnt look right. Just wonder how much work will be required considering the seals, rubbers etc would all be perished. Mechanicals would need total strip down and restoration as reqd (alloy block, I can imagine how well stuck the head studs/bolts would be). And probably rust as well if the garage was damp. Just can't see $1 mil let alone $12 mil. in that even if its historically appealing.

MethodX · 03-01-2009, 10:57 PM

Bugatti's are cars that sell.
no other way to put it lol.

Nikked · 03-01-2009, 11:41 PM

This is what she looked like, back in the day.

thats elegant, back in a time when French cars looked good

...

MethodX · 04-01-2009, 12:31 AM

http://flickr.com/photos/94957089@N0...156533/detail/

Love this one.
Quite ahead of its time.

ben174 · 04-01-2009, 11:22 AM

The 4th picture posted by Nikked has the same rego plate as the barn find car in what looks like a recent pic, and the car looks in decent condition?

Spudz27 · 04-01-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben174

The 4th picture posted by Nikked has the same rego plate as the barn find car in what looks like a recent pic, and the car looks in decent condition?

Noticed the same thing.

nb_351 · 04-01-2009, 02:03 PM

maybe the 4th pic is of it after it was given a cleanup before auction? or dsomething fishy is going on...