PARIS.- At the
Retromobile Show in Paris, on 3 February 2023, the Artcurial Motorcars team will present a 1936 Bugatti 57 Atalante to enthusiasts and collectors from around the world. This Bugatti 57 Atalante is one of just four examples to have been built with an original factory sunroof.
The car was delivered new in France to a jeweller from Marseille, presented in this superb colour combination of black and ivory. From 1938, the owner used his car to take part in the most famous races of the day, including the Rallye Monte-Carlo, Liège-Rome- Liège and Rallye des Alpes.
After the Second World War, it was acquired by the architect and important Belgian Bugatti collector, M. de Lay. Living in the Congo during the early 1960s, he used his Atalante regularly, and when civil war broke out in 1963, M. de Lay and his wife fled the country at the wheel of this car.
Back in Europe, the car was owned by a succession of major collectors before being fully restored to its original configuration at the end of the 1990s. This Atalante has the advantage of being presented today with a lovely patina, as the current owner, a great marque historian and enthusiast, has covered thousands of kilometres in his car to attend various events and rallies.
The 57 Atalante has acquired legendary status in Bugatti history, and this car, still equipped with its original chassis and bodywork, is exceptional for its continuous history. Alongside other highlights of the Official Sale, this Atalante will be given star billing within the Retromobile Salon, a celebration of automotive history held in Paris every year.
"What a pleasure to offer the finest line-up of collectors cars at the most prestigious automobile show in the world !"
Matthieu Lamoure,
Managing Director, Artcurial Motorcars