John Z. Goriup Posted March 6, 2014 Share #1 Posted March 6, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Driving home from Los Angeles last year, I stopped at the magnificent Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, which houses the finest collection of classic, French pre-WW II auotmobiles on earth, none more exquisite, rare and exotic than this '36 Bugatti 57SC Atlanitc Coupe, the first of a total of four ever produced. There are only three left, the fourth having been totally destroyed in a car vs. train accident long ago. Standing there contemplating this treasure I was strongly reminded of looking at the Mona Lisa or being overwhelmed by Michelangelo's Pieta at the entrance in St. Peters. M9P, 35mm Asph. Summicron, on a Leica folding mini table-top tripod against my chest, since mono or tripods are strictly forbidden, I hate using flash, high ISO makes for excessive noise, and using the Summicron or my 50 Summilux wide open would have resulted in paperthin DOF. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/223158-bugatti-atlantic/?do=findComment&comment=2544720'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 6, 2014 Posted March 6, 2014 Hi John Z. Goriup, Take a look here Bugatti 'Atlantic'. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pauledell Posted March 6, 2014 Share #2 Posted March 6, 2014 John, A great trio of pictures that have to be a car collector's delight. Excellent pictures. Paul Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted March 7, 2014 Share #3 Posted March 7, 2014 Exquisite photos of an exquisite auto. Thanks for posting them, and please show us other treasures for the Mullin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted March 9, 2014 Share #4 Posted March 9, 2014 Great pics, thank you for sharing There is another Bug "Atlantique" on the west coast. I saw pics of it a couple years ago at Palm Beach for the car show there. So we've now accounted for 3 of the 4...wonder where the last is? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Z. Goriup Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share #5 Posted March 10, 2014 Allan, Hopefully I won't get into trouble with the moderators by talking about cars rather than photography, but here's the scoop on the four Atlantics: No. 1: Seria; # 57374 - The metallic blue car above is the first of the four Atlantics produce, Serial # 57374. Built in '36 / '37 it was built for the Baron de Rothschild, a friend of Ettore Bugatti, and returned to the factory in '38 to have the supercharger fitted, raising HP from 175 to approx 200. Retsored, repainted and no longer 100% original. No. 2: Totally destroyed - no salvagable parts - whereabouts of wreckage unknown. No. 3: Serial # 57473 - Involved in an accident in '55 killing the owner and his mistress, damaged heavily and retained by insurance company for 10 years. Subsequently stored for decades, and when finally released for sale very sloppily restored. Purchased by a Zürich based collector and this time done properly, using every original part available after a worldwide search - first showing was at Pebble Beach 2010. Least original of surviving Atlantics. See photo below, the gray car ( Canon DSLR ). N0. 4: Serial # 57591 - The last of the 4 Atlantics produced, in 1938. The most original of the four Atlantics. Currently painted black ( originally it was a purplish Saphire Blue ) and a treasured part of Ralph Laurens collection of classics. Recently shown at the Louvre and won Best of Show at the Villa d'Est Concours in Italy in '13.- photo below not mine. That's the current status of the Atlantics, if someone claims to have one, or have seen one other than the above described cars, you can be most certain it's a fake - Atlantics ar one of those legendary automotive icons where at least ten of the original 4 purportedly still survive. Bugatti did build a model called an Atalante and a model referred to as the Aerolithe, all were sleek 2-seater coupes. JZG Please forgive the hi-jack & the detour. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/223158-bugatti-atlantic/?do=findComment&comment=2546663'>More sharing options...
Bill W Posted March 13, 2014 Share #6 Posted March 13, 2014 Nice series and thanks for the Bugatti history lesson. I guess Jay Leno was not able to get hold of one yet. He is a Bugatti lover. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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