The maroon car with one headlight looks like an old Plymouth Cricket, made in the UK and imported here in the early 70's. I had one, dark green. It was a good car...........
Posted on 01/02/2009 6:06:43 AM PST by Red Badger
A classic Bugatti car, which gathered dust in a Tyneside garage for almost 50 years, may fetch up to £3m ($4.35m) when it goes under the hammer.
Relatives of reclusive Newcastle doctor Harold Carr found the 1937 Type 57S Atalante in a garage after he died.
Now the classic car, thought to be one of just 17 built, is to be sold by Bonhams in Paris next month.
It was originally owned by Earl Howe - first president of the British Racing Drivers' Club.
Dr Carr, a former army surgeon, left the contents of a lock-up garage to his family when he died in 2007.
As well as the Bugatti, his nephew also discovered a classic Aston Martin, and a Jaguar E-type in the lock-up.
The nephew, an engineer from Newcastle, said: "We just can't believe it.
"Of course we're delighted and we're going to make sure the money is shared out among the family. It's a wonderful thing to leave."
Earl Howe took delivery of the sporty two-seat Atalante after it was completed in 1937 and kept the car for eight years.
After Earl Howe sold it, it changed hands a couple of times before Dr Carr bought the car in 1955 from Lord Ridley, a member of the Northumberland gentry.
He drove the car for the first few years, but in 1960 it was parked in his garage where it remained until his death.
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.
"The Atalante is incredibly original and, although she requires restoration, it is 'restoration' in the true sense of the word.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
The maroon car with one headlight looks like an old Plymouth Cricket, made in the UK and imported here in the early 70's. I had one, dark green. It was a good car...........
A hoax? What a shame.
LOL! That was my first thought as well!
My ping list is for diesel technology, most of the time. I do put other automotive stuff up from time to time. I’ll put you on it anyway. Sully777 has the automotive ping list, but he hasn’t been active for a while now. Hope he’s okay.........
I had a ‘78 Camaro I wish I still had now..............
Appears they were in Portugal and the collection of a dealer, but not procured by the New York retiree at an estate sale auction.
Dayum, those ol’ Bugattis were works of art, weren’t they.
A great site that features rare or unusual cars for sale is BringATrailer.com.
I admit, though I don't have the money to buy another old car right now, I am addicted to looking at the site nearly every day to see what has been posted.
Many of the cars aren't outrageously expensive, they're just uncommon.
Some of the cars are in fact "barn finds". You just never know what you'll see there!
Mine was a ‘70 Cutlass. Dad bought it new (Mom’s dad was a car salesman) when he got back from Viet Nam and drove it from Brady, TX to Tucson (where we were stationed) to break it in. 4-door, but it would flat move when you mashed the gas.
Colonel, USAFR
The Aero styling was ahead of its time...........
Would Ralph Lauren want it for it’s phallic symbol resemblance? Nah, what was I thinking?
Bought a 2nd hand ‘66 fastback GT Mustang with my a precommissioning loan for $1500 back in ‘89. Kept it at my sisters farm since I was sent overseas. Came back and never made it back home. Finally decided it would be better to share with the world then try to restore myself - given I’m a klutz anyhow. Sold it on ebay 2 years ago for for 7500 to a fella in Australia - and yes he paid the shipping. Last year my sisters farm was flooded to the point of moving the house a bit off the foundation. My first low-life, unbrotherly thought was thank god I got the car out of there before it happened. sigh - I loved that car.
Would Ralph Lauren want it for it’s phallic symbol resemblance? Nah, what was I thinking?Apparently you were thinking about phallic symbols...
Instead, it will probably be purchased by some bank chief who got a bailout from us.
He has an absolutely stunning car collection, but the Type 57SC is probably its crown jewel.
Sadly, though - he's not a REAL car guy like Jay Leno.
I doubt Mr. Lauren gets his hands greasy or has busted his knuckles when tightening a bolt.
Nope.. I think it’s an Alfa GTV.
Dr. Freud, is that you?
...or one of the Cusslers...
Around '81, a resto acquaintance told me of an Auburn Boattail Speedster found in a garage here in OKC. As the story went, the widow was much younger than the old gent (a trophy bride), and she outlived him by 30 or so years. After she passed on, the car was found under a canvas in the garage/servant house behind the main house in the Heritage Hills district.
HH was the area the wealthy called home from the early part of last century right up to the '60s. Today, properties there can fetch upward of $1M.
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