It attracted enough interest to consider taking it. Recreating the 1937 bugatti aerolithe classics on autotrader. Its disappearance is one of the great mysteries in the history of the automobile. Our value guide is constantly growing with pricing information and ve. Apart from its first years after production, the cars history remains mostly unknown. The atlantic models were developed from the unique aerolithe prototype, also. If this was a normal car, well, thats a pretty easy problem to solve. A 1936 bugatti type 57 sc atlantic was last night awarded the peninsula classics best of the best award in paris. A journey through 110 years of bugatti history us edition. Jay leno drives 1934 bugatti aerolithe replica made by. The bugatti aerolithe legend is one that has been told and retold. The bugatti type 57 and later variants including the famous atlantic and atalante was an entirely new design created by jean bugatti, son of founder ettore.
The missing entry point in bugattis supercar story. One of the most bizarre, elusive and expensive of cars is the bugatti type 57sc atlantic. Lost magnesiumbodied coupe replicated after years of effort. A journey through 110 years of bugatti history autocar. This video delves deeper than ever before into the backstory of the original.
Another masterpiece by parmigiani fleurier, the bugatti aerolithe is a bold timepiece that bears resemblance to the legendary car of the same name. Bugatti has made some of the most coveted cars in history. A quest for perfection discovers and unravels the enigma that is this remarkable car. Auction results and sales data for 1935 bugatti type 57. Historic 1of1 1935 bugatti aerolithe type 57 coming to. For decades, it looked like bugatti was doomed to exist only in history books. Well talk about the bugatti logo, history timeline and list of latest models below. Thats where the aerolithe story comes to a dead end. Due to the racing successes, ettore remained committed to his singlecam engine, only adopting the more advanced doubleoverheadcamshaft method of valve actuation, after much persuasion by his eldest son jean, on the type 50 of 1930. With, at the time, revolutionary solutions to the building process, ettore bugattis creed was lightness in. Its a replica of a oneofakind model that mysteriously disappeared in the late 1930s. My focus had been on racing cars but my heart found a home as i became aware of some of the dramatic bugatti road cars produced during the 1930s. Yet its most famous evolutions, the aerolithe prototype and the following atlantic coupes just.
Type 57s used a twincam 3,257 cc engine based on that of the type 49 but heavily modified by jean bugatti, unlike the single cam engines of the type 49. This video delves deeper than ever before into the backstory of the original car, the chassis 57104 of our recreation and how. These are four of many epithets that can be applied to bugatti. So ill start by listing what i thought was the most impressive in the collection. To david grainger, the logistics of recreating the bugatti aerolithe can be a nightmare.
We were in the middle of a photo shoot with the bugatti, and the photographer, who was also the director of the pilot for our tv series, walked around the car in some wonderment, then turned to me and said. From the beginning of the bugatti history, the company has a legendary reputation for building some of the most expensive and luxurious sports cars. Designed to pay tribute to the 1935 bugatti aerolithe coupe, this timepiece combines masterful engineering with a sporty design. Next to the introduction of the atalante model in 1935 an experimental model on the standard type 57 chassis appeared. Jay leno drives 1934 bugatti aerolithe replica made by hand. This car created quite a stir with its unusual, almost hunched body style and its ability to reach a maximum speed of 200 kph. Lost magnesiumbodied coupe replicated after years of effort styling features on the 1935 bugatti aerolithe, such as the prominent fin bisecting its body, would reappear on the legendary bugatti atlantics. It was based on the 1935 aerolithe concept car designed by jean bugatti which was. Lot 202 bugatti type 57 1937 chassis 57453 according to the information of the owner, this bugatti convertible is a prototype or a unique single car. This 1936 bugatti aeroatlantic coupe, chassis 57453, has been missing since 1938. Bugatti aerolithe on the paris salon 1935 the aerolithe broke cover at the paris salon of 1935. Ettore bugatti was the founder of bugatti cars and in many ways the ultimate perfectionist.
Famous bugattis include the type 35 grand prix cars, the type 41 royale, the type. With its low stance, powerful engine, lightweight construction, 123 mph 200 kph top speed and influential teardrop body, many believe this is the ultimate bugatti and the first supercar ever made. Home bugatti auto news news building a bugatti aerolithe no small feat recreating a unique 1935 model that had disappeared was a. The history books may officially say the 1938 buick yjob is the auto industrys first ever concept car, but the trend of designing oneoff experimental design mock ups goes back a bit further. A very peculiar detail is a childrens seat which folds out behind the regular seats. Painted silvergray, fitted with chrome wire wheels and dunlop whitewall tires, it completely overshadowed 57222. The bugatti page, with pictures and information about the automobiles and other construction of this famous french marque. There is a painting of the aerolithe in light green, supposedly done by an engineer who had worked on the car originally. A journey through 110 years of bugatti history us edition ronan glon. Only four atantic coupes were ever built, each of them having a rich history. The aerolithe was made out of elektron, a composite magnesiumbased. Type 57s used a twincam 3,257 cc engine based on that of the type 49 but heavily modified by jean bugatti, unlike the single cam.
The history books may officially say the 1938 buick yjob is the auto industrys first ever. The old bugatti aerolithe concept was also the inspiration of the atlantic 57sc. The finish of this car is a shade of very light green metallic that exhibits properties akin to a chameleon. The 2025 bugatti aerolithe concept is the work of douglas hogg, a coventry graduate. Recreating the 1937 bugatti aerolithe engaging car news. Painstaking story of the quest to recreate the atlantic prototype. Only 1 1935 bugatti aerolithe coupe was ever made and this exact replica is considered the most ambitious reproduction of a car ever, taking way in excess of the 7,000 hours when the counting stopped.
It was a sleek aerodynamic wonder during an era of boxy, heavy automobiles. Are there any other related articles or books on this missing car. Bugatti type 57 s atlantic in the history of bugatti. At the guild of automotive restorers, david grainger and his team save the worlds rarest classic vehicles. Jay visits with david grainger of the guild of automotive restorers for an indepth look at his amazing restoration on the earl. Starting in 1934, bugatti managed to build around 800 type 57s in various configurations. I kept straying back to pictures of jean bugattis masterpiece, the aerolithe. The page with info on the car vin and owner is missing, still an interesting item. Master restorer david grainger undertook an astonishing project. Just three out of four bugatti atlantics can be seen today, with the fourth one meeting a. Automobiles ettore bugatti was a french car manufacturer of highperformance automobiles, founded in 1909 in the thengerman city of molsheim, alsace by the italianborn industrial designer ettore bugatti. All the cars produced by the company are renowned for their class, style, performance, and comfort. When david grainger, bugatti expert and owner of the guild of automotive restoration in bradford, ontario, canada was commissioned to recreate one of the most famous prewar european vehicles ever to exist, he was determined to take history to a new level and both grainger, and his bugatti aerolithe type 57, will again make history this october when the one. The cars were known for their design beauty and for their many race victories.
The bugatti type 57 and later variants was an entirely new design created by jean bugatti, son. By winning the targa florio for five years straight between 1924 and 1929, and the first ever monaco grand prix, bugatti cemented its reputation for quality and sportiness. When a key part of automotive history simply disappears, the debate rages as to. Why you should order your pizza uncut claire lower. Pictures, information, bugattis for sale, miniatures, events, news. There are only two bugatti type 57sc atlantics in the world. Restored 1935 bugatti aerolithe the guild of automotive. Type 57s were built from 1934 through 1940, with a total of 710 examples produced.
It was built by ettore bugatti on a chassis type 57 with the serial no 57453. Find out how much a 1935 bugatti type 57 is worth and bugatti type 57 used car prices. I kept straying back to pictures of jean bugatti s masterpiece, the aerolithe. The following books are available from the mullin automotive museum by calling 8053855400. Bugatti logo, history timeline and list of latest models.
Its so sensuous and beautiful, yet cloaked in so much mystery, its as if it was just part of a brief, fleeting dream. Watch the full episode to learn more about the aerolithes history, and to find out what its like to drive. We were there as the multimillion dollar aerolithe recreation was loaded up and prepared for shipping to kuwait. The design draws its inspiration from the original bugatti aerolithe concept showcased at the 1935 paris motorshow. Building a bugatti aerolithe no small feat driving.
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