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You may have seen the PBS show Antiques Roadshow, where people dig long-forgotten items out of attics, basements and garages and often find to their surprise they're worth thousands.
Well then you can image the shock and awe the family of Dr. Harold Carr of Newcastle, England felt when they realized a car stored in Dr. Carr's garage for more than 40 years was an amazingly rare Bugatti that's estimated to be worth more than 3 million British pounds, or some $4.35 million U.S.
Only 17 examples of the ultra rare car, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57S, were ever built. The car was originally owned by Earl Howe, the first president of the British Racing Driver's Club who was personal friends with both the legendary Ettore Bugatti and the famed "Bentley Boys." After keeping the car for some eight years, Howe then sold the vehicle. It subsequently changed hands several times before Carr purchased it in 1955. While modified slightly, it still has its original chassis, engine, drivetrain and body, and an odometer reading just south of 27,000 miles.
Carr reportedly parked the Bugatti for good in the early 1960s where it remained until his death in 2007. The vehicle was reportedly discovered sometime after his death in a garage that Carr had willed to his family by a nephew of the good doctor, along with a classic Aston Martin and Jaguar.
According to James Knight, International Head of Bonhams' motoring department: "I have known of this Bugatti for a number of years and, like a select group of others, hadn't dared divulge its whereabouts to anyone. It is absolutely one of the last great barn discoveries, and we at Bonhams are honored to have been selected to handle its sale."
Below is history of the model from Bonhams, which will auction the car next month at the Retromobile sale in Paris:
Two years after the introduction of Bugatti's 1930s masterpiece the Type 57, the model evolved into its definitive form as the 'S' or 'competition model'. Increased performance and a lowered centre of gravity created by running the car's rear axle through the chassis, produced not only an out-and-out sports car, but a ground-hugging chassis line, ideal for creating the most wind-cheating and aerodynamic bodywork designs yet seen.
Unquestionably the design for which the model is best known is the Atlantic coupe, in which form the model debuted at the Paris Salon in 1935 and it was further refined before production 'S's left the factory in September of the following year. By May 1937 when this chassis 57502 was delivered, the company could cite a string of international class speed records, and Grand Prix wins. These would be capped with a Le Mans win later that year.
Historians state six racing or prototypes were built before production of the 57S began in earnest, but even throughout its three year run a mere 17 Atalantes were constructed. The streamlined Atlantic was carefully honed into a svelte coupe with the derived named Atalante, and this proved to be the design of choice to grace these chassis. However even a designated name didn't mean uniformity as each car was handcrafted and as attested to today, each had its own particular style and detail.
The nephew, an engineer from Newcastle, told the BBC: "We just can't believe it.
"Of course we're delighted and we're going to make sure the money is shared out among the family. It's a wonderful thing to leave."
Wonderful, indeed.
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