Bugatti Type 57 S Atlantic – Chassis 57473 - 1937

The third of what it is believed to have been four Type 57 Atlantic ( and the first to be called « Atlantic ») built by Bugatti in the late thirties had been in the Seydoux Collection in Paris since 1974. This important car became part of a significant European Collection in 2006. With the help of several marque experts, co-ordinated by Likas Huni AG, chassis 57473 was restored from 2007 to 2010.

Originally owned by Jacques Holzschuch untill  1952, the Bugatti Type 57 S Atlantic – Chassis 57473 won the Grand Prix d’Honneur » Concours d’Elegance Juan-lees-Pins and between 1939 and 1946 was modified probably by Figoni, with incorporated headlamps, different rear wing treatment and a re-styled interior. After Jacques Holzschuch, the Bugatti Type 57 S Atlantic – Chassis 57473 was acquired in 1952 by Antoine René Chatard, a committed Bugatti enthusiast who had the car registered in the name of his mistress Béatrice Schneider. On October 22 1955, Bugatti Type 57 S Atlantic – Chassis 57473 suffered an accident on the  unguarded railway crossing near Gien, causing major damage to the car. The reamins of the car were sequestered by the railway company and held for over  8 years until the lawsuit was settled. Paul André Berson of Montargis managed to retrieve the chassis and all other parts. He embarked on a long restoration and sold the finishe car to Nicolas Seydoux in 1977.
When Berson restored the Bugatti Type 57 S Atlantic – Chassis 57473 form 1968 to 1976, he used as much as he could of the damaged chassis, the original bonnet and many other of the original body panels from the less damaged right hand side of the car. A number of body parts that Berson had found too difficult to repair (the scuttle, the left rear wing, part of the left side of the roof, part of the passenger door and various parts of wooden frame), as well as the damaged original engine and gearbox (these were installed from chassis 57645) remained unused. Nicola sSeydoux was not satisfied with the quality of the Berson restoration and took the car to Paris restorer André Lecoq in 1977.

With the help of  Jean Sage and Antoine Raffaelli, all original parts from 57473 and Berson’s were purchased.  All original parts were re-united with Bugatti Type 57 S Atlantic – Chassis 57473.
Historian Christian Huet concluded after much study that the styling changes on coachwork an dinterior had been carried out by Figoni. I twas decided to restore the car to the point in time directly preceeding the train accident in 1955, to its Grey exterior colour as found on the original bidy, including the Figon styling change. The goal of the restoration was to bring the car back to full stability, full working order and original Atlantic performance, incorporating as many of the original parts as possible.

The Bugatti Type 57 S Atlantic – Chassis 57473 was presented at Rétromobile 2011 Auto Show, Paris.

Wallpapers: Bugatti Type 57 S Atlantic – Chassis 57473 - 1937