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Ex-Earl Howe Bugatti 'Barn-Find' To Headline Bonhams Retromobile Sale

One of the most important motor cars in the world emerges from its secret hideaway for the first time in 50 years.

The 1937 Bugatti Type 57S originally owned by Earl Howe, whose existence has only been known to a handful of people during the last 50 years will be sold at Bonhams' Retromobile sale in Paris on 7 February 2009. This highly significant motor car is conservatively estimated to realise in excess of €3,000,000.

The Bugatti with Atalante coachwork retains all the attributes that will ensure its appeal to the world's most discerning collectors. It has a spectacular provenance having been owned by Earl Howe, Lord Ridley, Harold Carr and others; it has a continuous and chronicled history; and it has exceptional originality retaining original chassis, engine, drivetrain and body. It even has what appears to be a remarkably low mileage with an odometer reading of just 26,284.

The car will be on view at Bonhams Collectors' Car sale at Olympia on 30 November – 1 December 2008

James Knight, International Head of Bonhams' motoring department said: "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 honoured to have been selected to handle its sale."

Bugatti Type 57S, chassis no. 57502, was completed at the Bugatti works on 5 May, 1937 sporting two-seat Atalante coupe coachwork. It was ordered new by no less than the motor sport great – and the BRDC's (British Racing Driver's Club) first President - Earl Howe via UK Bugatti agents, Sorel of London. Howe had a long association with Ettore Bugatti and his machines, and developed a close friendship with Ettore and his son Jean, having raced their Grand Prix motor cars.

Earl Howe took delivery of 57502 on the 9 June 1937 and was to retain his Bugatti for over eight years. He added a personal touch by fitting his own bumpers, rear-view mirrors on the A-pillars and a luggage rack, which it still retains to this day. It was to become his personal companion, escorting him to Brooklands and other race meetings. The car would have seen relatively little use during the Second World War as Earl Howe served with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.

After hostilities ceased, the T57S was sold via Continental Cars to a Mr J P Tingay in 1947. It was Tingay who effectively brought the car to 'SC' specification by fitting a Marshall K200 supercharger – as finding an original Bugatti blower proved nigh on impossible so soon after the War.

Mr M H Ferguson acquired the Bugatti from Tingay in 1950 and by 1954 it formed part of Lord Ridley's collection. Dr Harold Carr then acquired it in 1955 from Lord Ridley. Dr Carr drove the car for the first few years but in the early 1960s it was parked in his garage where it remained for nearly 50 years, until Dr Carr's death in 2007. The T57S is being sold on behalf of the family of Dr Carr, and will be offered with an extensive file of correspondence documenting its fascinating history.

James Knight said: "The Atalante is incredibly original and, although she requires restoration, it is "restoration" in the true sense of the word. From my perspective, save for some of the interior, all original parts can be restored or conserved in order to maintain originality. It offers a truly rewarding project to the new owner - who will join a select list of distinguished owners – to play such an integral part in bringing this wonderful motor car back to life. It has all the finest attributes any connoisseur collector could ever seek in one of the ultimate road-going sports cars from the golden era of the 1930s."


Background: The Type 57S model:
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.

Background: Earl Howe
Francis Curzon, the fifth Earl Howe was synonymous with the best pre-war sports cars. A keen amateur racing driver who succeeded to the Peerage in 1929, he encouraged Dudley Benjafield to found the British Racing Driver's Club and was elected its first President that same year. He retained this post until his death in 1964.

A close associate of the 'Bentley Boys' after the marque's retirement from racing he continued their quest for success in endurance racing, partnering Sir Henry Birkin in an Alfa Romeo to win the 1931 Le Mans, arguably his greatest achievement.

As a successful competitor who could not afford to indulge his motor sport passion, he was surrounded by a wealth of friends and knowledgeable enthusiasts to guide him to the very finest and most suitable mount for a race, event or simply to enjoy the road with. That he owned a Type 57S says a lot, that he kept this very same car for 8 years, says even more.....

Background: Rarity
These fabulous cars are coveted as much now as they were when new. The passion for collecting the 57S has passed from the luminaries of the 1930s, such as Malcolm Campbell to the great collectors of the twenty-first century, with the most passionate - Ralph Lauren among them - possessing more than one, and very few ever parting with them.

The market supply is further diminished by the fact that a fifth of all production resides in the Musee Nationale de L'Automobile in Mulhouse, France including a quarter of all Atalantes built.

Even within this thin air, chassis 57502 has characteristics which may well make it the most interesting of all the 57S cars, for as it stands today it combines an impeccable provenance with that most prized quality of total originality, having been virtually untouched and unused since the early 1960s.

Via: autoblog

Wow, that is a nice find! I believe that in such cases Auto Makers, here Bugatti, help you restore your classic car with very little money!

I know a guy that restored a 1939 MB 540K with help from MB Hellas, and they supplied him with all the parts and technical info he needed for the restoration. Other automakers offer a full restoration for free, if you agree to lend your car to their museums for a few months per year!

Car Found in Garage Sells for $4.4 Million



LONDON (Feb. 7) - AA car abandoned in a garage in Britain for half a century sold at an auction in Paris for about $4.4 million Friday.
The 1937 Bugatti Type 57S went under the hammer at Bonhams' Retromobile car show and sale in Paris. It was sold on behalf of the family of its last owner, Dr Harold Carr.

The orthopedic surgeon drove the car for several years, but in the early 1960s it was parked in his garage in Gosforth, near Newcastle in northern England, where it remained for nearly 50 years until his death in 2007.
Bugatti once represented the height of motoring achievement. The supercar was so ahead of its time it could go up to 130 mph when most other cars topped out about 50 mph.
This particular car is especially valuable because it was originally owned by Earl Howe, a prominent British race car driver, and because its original equipment is intact, so it can restored without relying on replacement parts.
Bonham's said a European collector bought the car.
The company founded in 1909 by Ettore Bugatti collapsed in the 1940s after a long string of racing victories.
The rights to the legendary Bugatti name were purchased in 1998 by Volkswagen, which has built the Bugatti Veyron, one of the world's fastest and most expensive cars.

Source: news.aol via: autoblog

What a finding...

The car has gorgeous lines! Stunning design, really stunning. So low and long, so incredibly fantastic... Superb headlights integration, too, very modern looking...

I'd love to find something like that in my garage!

Yes I did pretty good picking that up for ONLY $4.4 million. Good thing the economy is down or I would have had to spend a lot more on it. I should have it on the road by summer 2010

What a find & I always thought, Veyron was the ultimate super machine ever built... it's not being Veyron, it's being Bugatti!