The rarest Bugatti in the world: the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic
Not all legends stay buried The post The rarest Bugatti in the world: the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic appeared first on Supercar Blondie.
The rarest Bugatti in the world, the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, once claimed the Bugatti top speed crown and today could become the most expensive Bugatti ever sold.
Built in the late 1930s, this ultra-rare model stands as a pinnacle of coachbuilt automotive history.
It blended revolutionary styling with class-leading engineering, setting a benchmark for pre-war performance.
With one of the four cars still unaccounted for, its story remains one of the most compelling in car collecting.
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The rarest bugatti with aviation roots
The Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic was developed by Jean Bugatti using lessons from aircraft design.
The original prototype, called the Aérolithe, used Elektron metal, a lightweight magnesium alloy too flammable to weld.
This led to its unique riveted spine, a detail retained in the final Atlantic models even after switching to aluminum.
Just four Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic units were built, making it the rarest Bugatti ever made.
Each was hand-finished and featured distinct design touches, with no two cars completely alike.
The car’s long hood, teardrop rear, and spine-like seam became hallmarks of Bugatti design.
A performance icon
Beyond its looks, the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic was engineered to perform.
Its 3.3-liter straight-eight engine delivered roughly 200PS, allowing it to surpass 200km/h.
That made it the Bugatti top speed leader of its era, even before the Veyron.
For a 1930s road car, this was a staggering feat.
Bugatti combined luxury with performance long before the concept became standard.
The Atlantic’s mechanical layout, supercharger, and advanced chassis cemented it as a genuine technical achievement.
Could it be the most expensive Bugatti ever sold?
One of the four Atlantics, known as ‘La Voiture Noire,’ disappeared during World War II.
It was Jean Bugatti’s personal car and was used as a display model at motor shows.
Since its last documented sighting, no trace has been confirmed.
If this missing car were ever found, experts believe it would instantly become the most expensive Bugatti ever sold.
Estimates place its potential value at over €100 million, which would eclipse any known classic car sale to date.
The Rarest Bugatti lives on through its legacy
Today, Bugatti continues to build hypercars that echo the DNA of the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic.
Models like the Chiron and Bolide embrace the same obsession with design, speed, and limited production.
The Atlantic’s influence is visible in the riveted lines and custom craftsmanship of modern Bugatti builds.
The rarest Bugatti is more than a collector car.
It’s a symbol of innovation, elegance, and engineering that defined its generation.
And if the lost example is ever found, it could become the most expensive Bugatti ever sold and the most important rediscovery in automotive history.The post The rarest Bugatti in the world: the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic appeared first on Supercar Blondie.
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