1936-1938 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante

With its streamlined styling, low-slung chassis and supercharged engine, the Type 57SC Atalante is one of the most desirable Bugattis. It was personally designed by Jean Bugatti as a two-seater sports coupe and became the rarest of the four different body styles offered by Carrosorie Bugatti.

The Atalante body style was an interpretation of the 1935 Aérolithe Coupe, essentially a prototype that reached very limited production in 1936 as the Type 57 Atlantic. This somewhat bizarre car used riveted panels to form a streamlined sports coupe. It’s rumored that Jean Bugatti was influenced by the Mercedes-Benz 500 K Autobahnkurier at the 1934 Frankfurt Auto Show and created the Aérolithe as a response.

As majestic and unusual as the Atlantic was, it wasn’t suitable for series production with its high set doors, fussy construction and split front window. The design was revised into the Atalante which included the Aérolithe’s teardrop shape, but with a flat windshield, a separate trunk area with recessed spare-tire and full-size doors that retained the signature kidney-bean windows.

On the 57S Atalante, Jean used a two-tone paint scheme that accentuated the use of his French curve on the side of the car. Typically, the car was black with an intense highlight color. On some cars, this accent dash extended around the entire cabin.

The basis for this remarkable car was Bugatti’s top-of-the-line Type 57S chassis. These were the same type that Jean-Pierre Wimille and Robert Benoist drove to win the 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans. It had a much lower chassis than the preceding Type 57 and also used complex de Ram shock absorbers. In many ways this was the ultimate Bugatti since no logical successor was ever produced. Some cars came with fitted superchargers, while others were retrofitted with them.

To maintain exclusivity, no two of the Type 57S Atalantes were the same. In detail, each was distinct and some major differences were introduced. For instance, two were made as Roll-Back Coupes with reclining soft-tops. Some of the first had independent headlights while others were sculpted into the body. Most featured skirted rear arches and wire wheels or polished aluminum hubcaps. Some of the more dramatic cars feature lengthened rear fenders. Essentially, where anyone tries to make a rule there is usually an exception.

Type 57SC Chassis

Atalante bodies were manufactured on the complete range of Type 57 chassis. This was Jean Bugatti’s answer to model consolation, replacing the six luxurious and sporting chassis made under his father’s direction. Using the dual-overhead camshaft (DOHC) concept engine from the Type 55 road car, he designed an entirely new chassis.

The first of these were the Type 57 and supercharged 57C both were distinguished by their tall radiator and chassis. They were powered by a new engine with 72mm bore and 100mm stroke, producing 135 bhp at 5,000 rpm. Almost as important, they provided the support for Jean Bugatti’s exceptional bodies which were elegant, with balanced proportions and daring colors.

Later, the chassis was definitively upgraded into the lower Type 57S or Surbaissé version. The main chassis rails of this model were elegant and complex. Towards the center of car, the chassis rails became wider and taller to provide the necessary rigidity. At the rear, the axle passed through the chassis and was supported by reversed quarter-elliptic leaf springs. This allowed for the lowest possible ride height while retaining suspension compliance. Furthermore, the engine clearance dictated a dry-sump lubrication was needed that used a 20-liter external reservoir.

Outwardly, the Type 57S chassis was distinguished by its ovoid radiator that formed a deep vee. Other chassis details included self-adjusting DeRam hydraulic shock absorbers on both the front and rear axles. Furthermore, the engine was not a stressed member of the chassis anymore, instead being mounted with rubber bushings.

As the ultimate Atalante, the Type 57SC had both this lower chassis and supercharged engine. It was distinguished by its 4–5 psi supercharger that helped the 3.3-liter engine produce 170 bhp. This Roots unit was mounted at the rear of the engine and driven directly from the camshaft. Versions of this engine went on to win the best races including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

With such a capable chassis, the Type 57SC has been described as the world’s first supercar. Combined with an elegant body from Carroserie Bugatti, VanVooren, Gangloff or Figoni et Falaschi and you have a winning combo. Many cars were later retrofitted with superchargers by the factory.

Sales & Chassis

57502-With Engine number 26S, this un-supercharged car was first delivered to Bugatti Owners’ Club President and LeMans racer Lord Earl Howe on May 5th 1937. It was painted blue and black with pigskin interior, a split bumper and twin spotlights. However, How fitted fill width bumpers, rear view mirrors and a rear luggage rack not long after. Registered DYK 5 It was displayed this way at the Eastbourne Concours d’Elegance on July 20th, 1937. Before an accident in 1945, it was found parked at various British events alongside Lord Howe’s other cars. Following an accident it was replaced in 1945. It swap ownership several times and was fitted with K200 supercharger and modified manifolding until Dr Harold Carr purchased the car and preserved in original condition. It remained out of sight until 2007. After the doctor’s death it was sold at Bonhams 2009 Retromobile Auction for €3,417,500 inclusive of buyer’s premium. The car was described as having 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.”

57511 – First ordered by Robert Eonnet on November 4, 1936, the car was delivered on February 25, 1937 in two-tone Blue with pigskin and beige cloth interior. It was upgraded to Type 57SC specification sometime by the factory in the 1950s. It eventually was owned by US Navy doctor Charles S. Hascall who brought it to America and had it painted a Rolls-Royce color scheme known as smoke and sage. Later it was purchased by Dr. Peter & Susan Williamson for inclusion into one of America’s great Bugatti collections. Upon Peter’s death, the car was offered at Gooding & Company’s 2008 Pebble beach Auction with proceeds benefiting the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

57551 – With engine number 30S, this car was completed on July 23, 1937 with an Atalante body finished in black with pigskin upholstery. The body configuration, with its low headlight placement between the radiator and front fenders, was identical to the October 1937 Paris show car. It was delivered by the factory just a week later to its first owner, Jean Lévy of Strasbourg. It went through a number of owners including, in order, Maurice Weber, French artist André Derain, Jean-Louis Fatio, Colin Doane in the U.S. then the famous William Harrah for the Harrah’s Collection. He commissioned a full restoration by O.A. “Bunny” Phillips including colors of Patrol Cream and Lemon Oxide. Afterward it immediately won Best of Show at the 1976 Pebble Beach Concours. Described as “attractive, desirable and best-performing of all Bugatti road cars” RM Auctions offered this car at their 2009 Arizona sale and fetched a nosale bid of 4.4 million.

Pictures & Gallery

See full 1936 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Gallery here

Specs & Performance

type	Series Production Car
production years	1936 – 1938
built at	Molsheim, Alsace, France
body stylist	Jean Bugatti
coachbuilder	Carrosserie Bugatti
engineers	Jean Bugatti
production	11
predecessor	1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic
engine	Inline-8
position	Front Longitudinal
aspiration	Roots-Type Supercharger
block material	Cast Iron
valvetrain	DOHC, 2 Valves / Cyl
fuel feed	Stromberg Carburetor
displacement	3257 cc / 198.8 in³
bore	72 mm / 2.83 in
stroke	100 mm / 3.94 in
power	156.6 kw / 210 bhp @ 5500 rpm
specific output	64.48 bhp per litre
bhp/weight	135.48 bhp per tonne
body / frame	Steel over Steel Frame
driven wheels	Front Engine / RWD
front brakes	Hydraulic Drums
rear brakes	Hydraulic Drums
front wheels	F 45.7 x 14.0 cm / 18.0 x 5.5 in
rear wheels	R 45.7 x 14.0 cm / 18.0 x 5.5 in
f suspension	Beam Axle w/Semi-Elliptic Leaf springs, De Rams Shock Absorbers
r suspension	Live Axle w/Reversed Quarter-Elliptic Leaf springs, De Rams Shock Absorbers
curb weight	1550 kg / 3418 lbs
wheelbase	2980 mm / 117.3 in
front track	1350 mm / 53.1 in
rear track	1350 mm / 53.1 in
length	4600 mm / 181.1 in
width	1760 mm / 69.3 in
height	1380 mm / 54.3 in
transmission	4-Speed Manual
top speed	~210 kph / 130.5 mph
0 – 60 mph	~10.0 seconds