Bugatti Heritage – Records in 2020

Last year, Bugatti set a record that no other brand had ever achieved before. The five most expensive cars sold at auction all came from Molsheim. Despite the Corona pandemic, these classics achieved high prices. Frank Wilke, Managing Director of Classic Analytics sums up the year: “Bugattis from the Ettore and Jean Bugatti era, especially in their original condition and with a history of racing, have always been among the most expensive classic cars on the market. This trend has held steady and in fact even increased despite the general decline in interest in pre-war vehicles. The current situation has certainly brought about a change in the auction market, from face-to-face to online auctions. But prices for exclusive, classic vehicles remain stable at a high level. very historic Bugatti vehicle is unique. Those built between 1920 and the end of the 1930s set standards in both performance and design. But this year’s auctioned vehicles were particularly outstanding in terms of history and originality,”

5th place – Type 55 SS (#55221)

Between 1932 and 1935, 38 chassis of the Bugatti Type 55 SS (Super Sport) were built in Molsheim. 14 of them received a Roadster body designed by Jean Bugatti. Others served as racing cars. Two Type 55s made it into this Top 5 list. Bonhams auctioned this car at the Retromobile in Paris. Chassis number 55221 competed with Louis Chiron and Count Guy Bouriat-Quintart at the wheel in the 1932 24 Hours of Le Mans. A later owner had an open Roadster body built at Figoni et Falaschi. The car then remained in his family for around 60 years. At the auction in Paris, bids climbed to US$ 5.07 million before it was hammered.

4th place – Type 35C (#4871)

Gooding & Company auctioned a 1928 Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix in London in September 2020. After the Targa Florio in 1928, the car went to French female racing driver Jannine Jennky. She achieved overall victory with the Type 35C in the first Coupe de Bourgogne in Dijon. In the period between 1932 and the auction, only four other owners followed. The incredibly well-preserved original condition moved one bidder to a high bid of US$ 5,230,000.

3rd place – Type 55 SS (#55220)

Following the Type 55 SS in 5th place is the second car in 3rd place. The first owner of this example with factory Roadster bodywork by Jean Bugatti was Victor Rothschild, later the third Baron Rothschild. Only after 50 years did he sell his Bugatti to Boston professor Dean S. Edmonds jnr. The price paid of 440,000 pounds made it the most expensive car sold in Britain at the time. Edmonds had the Type 55 extensively restored. The Bugatti subsequently won first place in its class at the 1993 Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach. Bonhams auctioned the car in March 2020 at Amelia Island for US$ 7.1 million.

2nd place – Type 57 S Atalante (#57502)

Only 17 examples of the Type 57 S Atalante with its exciting body were built. Jean Bugatti himself designed it. The first owner of the car, which was auctioned by Gooding & Company, was the British racing driver Earl Howe in 1937. He enjoyed the 175 hp of the 3.3-liter inline eight-cylinder engine for some time. At the auction in London, the car now achieved a hammer price of 10.44 million US dollars.

1st place – Type 59 Sports (#57248)

“We held our first-ever UK sale which set many new records that include selling the most expensive Bugatti at public auction, a 1934 Type 59 Sports,” reports David Gooding, founder and president of auction house Gooding & Company. The car is a Type 59 that was originally designed purely as a racing car for the Bugatti works team. In fact, they won the 1934 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa with it and also took third place at the Grand Prix de Monaco. After this racing season, the Type 59 received a conversion to a road sports car. This was purchased by King Leopold of Belgium in 1937. Thanks to its unrestored original condition, this Bugatti achieved a high bid of US$ 12,681,000.

Price increase comes as no surprise

Although pre-war classic cars are attracting less and less interest, Bugatti vehicles are an exception. The high level of technical innovations and the often unique design give the Molsheim classics their own aura. Without a doubt, the most valuable classic cars in the world also come from Bugatti. These are the Type 41 Royale, which was only built six times, and the Type 57 SC Atlantic, of which only three had been built. Should such a vehicle come onto the market, prices in the high eight-figure range are to be expected. If the third Type 57 SC Atlantic, which is thought to be lost, should ever resurface, even a nine-digit price might be possible.

Images: Bugatti, Bonhams, Gooding & Company