'37 Bugatti is auctioned off.....

[SSJunkie68-69]

From the AP........

LONDON – A car abandoned in a garage in Britain for half a century sold at an auction in Paris for euro3.4 million (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 (209 kph) when most other cars topped out about 50 mph (80 kph).

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.

[BJCHEV396]

I guess there is still big money out there for the right car.

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Actually this car sold so low it is scary to some. The original estimates were about twice the hammer.

here is the original story;

A vintage car model 1937 Bugatti Type 57S, originally owned by Earl Howe, is set to break new records when it goes under the hammer next month in Paris. The precious gift left behind by surgeon Harold Carr for his descendants remained undiscovered in a garage for more than 50 years. Finally, his nephew found it lying uncared for years in the garage and was amazed to learn that just 17 of its kind were ever made. The rare piece will go on auction next month at Bonhams’ Retromobile sale and is expected to realize more that €6.2 million ($8.7 million). Earl Howe, the first president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, was the original owner of the car. Dr. Carr bought it in the ‘50s and locked it up in the garage before he passed away. After remaining untouched for more than half a century, the car is finally out to see the daylight on Feb 7th at an auction arena where it will provoke all buyers to call higher bids.