Car Collector International
Classic · 1934–1940

Bugatti Type 57 / 57S / 57SC

Jean Bugatti's masterpiece — including the Atlantic, perhaps the most valuable car ever sold.

Car Collector International Editorial
Dark maroon Bugatti Type 57 coupe in a grey studio setting, front three-quarter view showing the horseshoe grille, freestanding round headlamps, sweeping cycle-style front wings, chrome bumper blades and wire-spoke wheels.
OverviewVariants & SpecsCollector VariantsBuyer's GuideOwnershipCommon ProblemsAuction ResultsInvestment OutlookRecommended Network
Overview

Why this car matters

The Type 57 was Jean Bugatti's defining road-car design, built from 1934 to 1940 with a 3,257cc twin-cam inline-eight. The standard 57 was joined by the lowered 57S (low chassis) and supercharged 57SC, with body styles including the Atalante coupe, Stelvio cabriolet, Galibier saloon, Ventoux coupe and — most famously — the Atlantic, of which only four were built. One Atlantic changed hands privately in 2010 for a reported $30–40 million.

Some of the most celebrated coachwork of the pre-war era; Atlantic and 57SC examples are at the very top of the global market.

Variants

Range and production

VariantYearsProductionNotes
Type 571934–1940630Standard chassis; multiple body styles.
Type 57S1936–193842Low chassis, sporting specification; very rare.
Type 57SC1936–19382 built new; most 57S later convertedSupercharged 57S; the rarest mainstream variant.
Type 57 Atlantic1936–19384Two- and four-seat coupe with riveted spine; only four built.
Collector Variants

Limited & special editions

The models below represent the most significant limited and special edition variants — factory-produced cars that command meaningful premiums over standard examples and warrant specific attention from serious collectors.

Bugatti Type 57S / 57SC · 1936–1938

42 (Type 57S) — of which a small number factory-supercharged as 57SC
Distinguishing features
Lowered (S = Surbaissé) chassis, 175 hp 3.3 straight-eight, with the optional Roots supercharger upgrade to 57SC (200 hp). Coachwork by Gangloff, Vanden Plas, Corsica and others; rarest body is the Atlantic (4 built).
Value premium
Multi-million dollar — Atlantic-bodied cars in the standalone tens-of-millions.
Inspection points
Bugatti Trust documentation, original chassis numbering and Roots supercharger originality where SC.
Buyer's Guide

What to look for

Provenance and originality

For pre-war and vintage cars such as the Bugatti Type 57 / 57S / 57SC, provenance is paramount. Chassis and engine number matching, period coachbuilder records, factory build sheets where available, continuous ownership documentation, original handbooks and any competition or concours history are the foundation of value. Body style (Atlantic > 57SC > 57S > 57), originality of chassis-body pairing, Bugatti Trust documentation, and continuous history.

Mechanical inspection priorities

The 3.3-litre twin-cam straight-eight is sophisticated but well-known to specialists; supercharged cars are more highly stressed. Compression, oil pressure and carburetion are routine inspection items. A pre-purchase inspection by a recognised marque specialist should include compression and leak-down testing, magneto and ignition checks, chassis straightness and frame survey, axle and steering wear assessment, brake system review (mechanical or hydraulic per period), and an extended road test on varied terrain to expose carburation, cooling and gearbox issues that only emerge under sustained running.

Body, chassis and originality of coachwork

Pre-war coachwork is rarely truly original after a century of use. Establish whether the body is original to the chassis (period photographs, build records, coachbuilder plates), whether it has been re-bodied at any point, and the standard of any restoration. Quality of timber framing, ash health, panel beating and paint depth are all critical. Concealed structural rot, re-bodies presented as original, and 'tribute' cars built on later or unrelated chassis must be priced accordingly.

Specification and event eligibility

Atlantic and 57SC Atalante lead the market by an enormous margin; standard 57 coupes and saloons offer the supercharged-derivative drivetrain at materially more accessible prices. For vintage cars, event eligibility — Mille Miglia, Goodwood Revival, Pebble Beach, VSCC events, Le Mans Classic — can underwrite a substantial proportion of market value. Verify FIA/FIVA papers, period race history where claimed, and the car's standing with the relevant marque registry before purchase.

Ownership

Living with it

Typical mileage
300–2,000 miles typical for vintage use; rally cars higher
Service interval
Annual full service; pre-event check before any rally or tour
Annual running cost
$8,000 – $35,000 depending on use, storage and event programme
Fuel economy
10–18 mpg typical; heavy carburetted engines run rich
Insurance
Use a specialist agreed-value vintage policy with declared value reviewed annually. Premiums reflect declared value, storage, event use and driver experience with pre-war machinery.

Maintenance planning

Vintage cars require disciplined preventive maintenance: lubrication regimes, magneto service, carburettor synchronisation, brake adjustment, and timber and trim conservation. A car used regularly and serviced annually by a specialist will outlast a stored example neglected for decades.

Specialist access and parts

Strong international Bugatti specialist network; parts available through marque suppliers in France and elsewhere. Confirm the availability of marque specialists, period-correct fasteners, coachwork trim, instruments and tyres before committing. A car requiring fabricated one-off parts will absorb time and cost that a similar example with active specialist support will not.
Common Problems

Known issues by system

Engine

DOHC straight-eight valve gear wear and tappet noise

Major$15,000 – $40,000
Symptoms — Top-end rattle, valve clearance drift, reduced compression.
Inspection — Compression test all 8; inspect cam followers and tappet adjustment; verify specialist service history.
Supercharger

Type 57S/SC Roots blower bearing wear

Major$20,000 – $50,000
Symptoms — Loss of boost, whine, oil at blower casing.
Inspection — Boost test; remove blower for inspection.
Originality

57S chassis converted from 57 (rare but documented)

CriticalValue impact: 57 vs. 57S differential exceeds €5m
Symptoms — Only 42 Type 57S chassis built; verification is essential.
Inspection — Cross-reference with Bugatti Trust 57S register; chassis number is decisive.
Coachwork

Atalante / Atlantic / Stelvio body originality and re-bodies

CriticalValue impact: 50% to 95%+ of total value
Symptoms — Coachwork is the primary value driver; re-bodied cars or tribute Atlantics common.
Inspection — Verify body to chassis with Bugatti Trust and known period photographs.
Auctions

Recent results

DateAuctionCarMileageResult
2022-08-20
Gooding & Co.
Pebble Beach
1937 Type 57SC Atalante
—
$10,345,000
Sold
Investment

Long-term outlook

Blue ChipHorizon: 10+ years

Jean Bugatti's defining design. The top end is finite and almost untradeable; mainstream cars are firm.

Our view, not advice. This section is Car Collector International's editorial judgement on where this model sits in the collector market, based on the production, specification and market data set out in this guide. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell and it is not investment advice. Values can fall as well as rise.

Recommended

The trusted network

Specialists

  • Bugatti marque specialist
    View →
    UK / Europe
    Bugatti Type 57 / 57S / 57SC restoration, mechanical service and originality reviews.
  • Pre-war coachwork specialist
    View →
    International
    Timber framing, ash conservation, panel beating and period-correct paint for pre-war coachwork.
  • Concours preparation studio
    View →
    International
    Concours preparation, detailing and event support for pre-war and vintage cars.
  • Hagerty
    View →
    USA / UK / EU
    Agreed-value collector insurance specialising in pre-war and vintage cars.
  • Lockton Performance
    View →
    UK / EU
    Specialist agreed-value cover for significant pre-war and competition cars.

Storage

  • Windrush Car Storage
    View →
    London & Cotswolds, UK
    Climate-controlled storage and collection management for pre-war and classic cars.
  • AutoVault
    View →
    Essex, UK
    Dehumidified storage at 55% RH in purpose-built sealed buildings, with maintenance programmes and individual motor-trade insurance cover.
  • Classic Car Club Manhattan
    View →
    New York, NY
    Secure urban storage for collector and pre-war cars.

Transport

  • CARS UK
    View →
    UK & Europe
    Enclosed concours and event transport for pre-war and vintage machinery.
  • Reliable Carriers
    View →
    USA (national)
    Enclosed coast-to-coast transport for pre-war American and European cars.
  • FERRLOG
    View →
    Italy / Europe
    Air-ride enclosed transport for Italian and European collector cars.
Related

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The valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.