1938 Bugatti T57C Atalante Coupe Formerly the Property of Mr. Nicolas Cage. 160bhp at 5,000rpm, 3,257cc twin overhead cam supercharged straight eight-cylinder engine with fourspeed gearbox and four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 3,300mm COACHWORK BY BUGATTI The Type 57 Bugatti was introduced in March 1934, and variants of this touring model were destined thereafter to form virtually the entire output from the Molsheim factory until war intervened in September 1939 – by which time a total of less than 700 examples of all versions had been produced. Influenced to a considerable extent by Ettore Bugatti’s talented young son, Jean, the car was rather larger and far more refined than all of the company’s previous base models, and was entirely new in almost every respect A straight eight 3.3-litre twin camshaft engine with a dry single plate clutch was contained for the first time within conventional bell-housing driven through a constant mesh gearbox, and the combined unit was mounted in a Bugatti design – as were both the suspension incorporating their characteristic reversed quarter-elliptic layout at the rear and the cable-operated braking system. The car was offered from the outset with a choice of three factory-supplied styles – the four-seater coachwork, the Galibier fourdoor saloon, and the fixed-head Ventoux two-door coupe – to be produced in their own Molsheim workshops, whilst the drop head Stelvio cabriolet was sub-contracted to local coachbuilder Gangloff of Colmar – with whom Bugatti had long had close associations. Additionally, the car was offered in chassis form upon which many of the leading coachbuilders of the day were to exercise their individual skills. A fourth body style, the Atalante fixed head twoseater coupe, was added to the range in 1935, although in the factory records it was designated as the faux-cabriolet prior to mid-1936. It was considered by many to be the most attractive and distinctive of the lot, and certainly one of the harder to acquire. A Series II chassis featuring several improvements was introduced for the 1936 model year. For even greater refinement, the engine was improved in several details and mounted flexibly in a stiffer chassis frame incorporating a central cruciform, whilst the complex and expensive deRam shock absorbers superceded the previous Telecontrol Hartford units. Later in 1936, the high-performance short chassis Type 57S sports model was added to the range. This particular example, Chassis no. 57679 fitted with engine no. 496, was invoiced by the factory on the 24th of October 1938 and listed as a Gangloff Stelvio for delivery to Earl Howe. However, RM Auctions believes that the records are mistaken because for well over 50 years the Atalante Chassis no. 57679 has been known and widely regarded as the Lord Cholmondley Atalante. This is further substantiated by period photographs taken in front of Lord Cholmondley’s house that show the Atalante registered with his traditional number plate, FGC180. Furthermore, the car known as the Lord Howe Stelvio, Chassis no. 57698,resides in a museum in Texas. In the mid-1950’s, this Atalante, Chassis no. 57679, was imported into the United States and subsequently registered to a Mr. Sorenson of New Jersey. It remained within the care of the Sorenson family for at least 20 years. In the late 1980’s, the Atalante passed through a succession of owners until it became a centerpiece within the Len Immeke collection. It was during Mr. Immeke’s ownership that the 57 was upgraded with a supercharger by the marque specialists Competition Motors. Several years later, the Atalante changed hands once again, residing in an important Japanese Collection for several years until it was purchased by Mr. Cage. It remains in excellent condition and truly show worthy, as it is one of the most beautiful, striking designs to have been produced at Molsheim. The absolutely stunning restoration displays the great attention to detail and correctness that make this example a stand-alone. The interior wood is absolutely beautiful and nothing short of a work of art. One of the 36 examples originally built, this Atalante is truly an important car that would be a centerpiece of any collection. Attesting to this, the Atalante has been shown at Pebble Beach, where it was met with much enthusiasm from the judges and crowds. We are delighted to be offering this work of art on behalf of its gentleman owner.