- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Rare Bugatti car uncovered after 50 years
- Date: 11th January 2009
- Summary: BROOKLANDS, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - MAY 19, 1932) (BRITISH PARAMOUNT NEWSREEL / REUTERS) NEWSREEL HEADLINE BROOKLANDS, ENGLAND: LONG VIEW OF CROWDS IN ENCLOSURE SEMI VIEW & CU. OF EARL HOWE & MECHANICS WITH AUTO ELEVATED SHOT OF RACE START ELEVATED SHOT OF 4 CARS RACING. LONG VIEW OF CARS TOWARDS & PAN SEMI VIEW OF CARS & FOLLOW SHOT RACING SEMI VIEW OF 2 CARS ROUN
- Embargoed: 26th January 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Lifestyle,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA37E08N0VCUCKX4LVZ9PWXGYOT
- Story Text: A rare Bugatti motor car, which had been parked in a garage gathering dust for nearly 50 years, is expected to fetch millions of pounds when it comes up for auctioned on February 7.
Hidden away in a garage in Newcastle, northeast England, by its owner Harold Carr in 1960, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante with just 26,000 miles on the clock, has been put forwards for auction by the members of the Carr family.
The car, one of only 17 of its kind, remained untouched and was known to only a handful of enthusiasts until the surgeon's death in 2007.
Talking to Reuters ahead of the auction, James Knight, Group Head of Bonhams motoring division explans the the reason for recent media interest in the car since it has come up for sale.
"What we are talking about is a 1930's Bugatti. In its own right, a 1930's Bugatti is quite important, but what we have got is the 57S which is pretty much the top of the tree. It was just like a grand prix car in touring car guise," he said.
Tasked with the responsibility of preparing the Bugatti for auction, vintage car specialist Nicolas Benwell believes that a perspective collector will be purchasing a vehical in remarkable condition.
"Less is more, the fact that it completely original, we don't want to change anything. It has got all the reference points and all the original body work and upholstery and paint work and the original mechanical components and we just wanted to present it in the state so the next person has the choice whether to fully restore the car or preserver the car," he explained The car was originally owned by the first president of the British Racing Drivers' Club Earl Howe. Described as a gentleman driver, independently wealthy, with a love for motor racing. Earl Howel is credited as one of the founding fathers of what is today the British Racing Drivers Club. During the late 1920's and early 1930's, Howel ran in six consecutive Le Mans races, and was considered one of the superstars of the day in motor racing.
Bonhams have valued the car between 2.75 to 4 millon Euros (3.69 to
37 million U.S. dollars) but media reports have estimated that the car could fetch up to six million pounds (8.7 million U.S. dollars) which would make it the most expensive car to go under the hammer.
"When you offer a car like this that really only comes to market once in a blue moon, collectors just have to be focus towards the car whatever the economic climate because quite frankly he who doesn't get it on the 7th of February at the Bonhams sale might are well cross it off the list because they are not really going to have another chance to own the car," said Knight The car goes up for auction at Bonhams' Retromobile sale in Paris on February 7. - Copyright Holder: BRITISH PARAMOUNT NEWSREEL (REUTERS)
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