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Press release4/5/2017
Motor Klassik Award 2017
Molsheim
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The Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, one of the French traditional brand’s most impressive masterpieces and one of the most valuable automobiles in the world, has been chosen by readers of the motoring magazine Motor Klassik as the best car of the 1920s and 1930s. At this year’s “Motor Klassik Award” ceremony, the design icon from Molsheim took first place in the category of “Classics of the 1920s and 1930s.” The award ceremony was held yesterday evening at Schloss Dyck.
“We are very pleased about this award, which honours one of the world’s most famous and most valuable classic cars,” said Julius Kruta, Head of Tradition at Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., who received the award in person. “The Type 57SC Atlantic is a superlative automobile and is certainly one of the most impressive designs of Jean Bugatti. This is the fourth time that the Motor Klassik Award has gone to the pre-war supercar, which was the clear winner against five competitors in its class, with 32.6 percent of the votes cast.
In 1936 to 1938, only four examples of the 57SC Atlantic were built. Nowadays, only two of these cars still exist in entirely original condition. The Atlantic is the most famous variant of the Type 57. With the SC model (“SC” stands for “supercharger”), Jean Bugatti, son of company founder Ettore, wanted to offer a sports racing variant in addition to the standard version. The sports coupe was equipped with an in-line 8-cylinder engine with a displacement of 3,257 cm³ which developed about 200 PS. The vehicle could reach speeds in excess of 200 km/h.
Jean Bugatti, who had already proved his talent for special body designs with the Type 41 Royale, the Type 55 Roadster and the Type 50, designed an extremely lightweight, aerodynamic body for the Atlantic. Aluminium was used for the body panels. The result was the distinctive design feature of the Atlantic, a clearly accentuated dorsal seam running from the windscreen to the rear bumper. This is a riveted joint that holds the two halves of the aluminium body together and can still be seen clearly on the new Bugatti Chiron¹ as a characteristic design element of the brand. The wheels stand out from the body and are accentuated by huge wings. Viewed from above, the beautiful, elegant shape of the Atlantic becomes especially clear, with the extremely long bonnet running into the round rear, forming an oval.
During the annual survey held by Motor Klassik, a motoring magazine published by Motor Presse of Stuttgart, readers are asked which classic cars they especially appreciate and which modern vehicles could become coveted classics or recent classics in a few decades. There are six categories based on the year of production and six special categories.
