Bugatti's orignal 1938 57SC Atlantic ‘La Voiture Noire’ may remain lost, but you can now own the next best thing – a 1:8 replica courtesy of the Amalgam Collection
Although the missing 1938 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic ‘La Voiture Noire’ remains adrift to fate, Amalgam can now offer an intricate 1:8 scale model of the long-lost Grand Tourer to fill that gap in your collection. But you'll need to be quick, as only a handful are available. You can find out more here.
Stemming from Bugatti’s 1935 Aérolithe concept car, just four examples of the 57SC Atlantic were built; hand crafted using aluminium bodywork and retailing with society’s elite for ungodly sums of money.
Originally set for launch as the Aéro Coupé, the vehicle’s nameplate was quickly altered in memory of revolutionary aviator Jean Mermoz – a close friend to Jean Bugatti – who disappeared across the Atlantic and was never found.
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Three of Bugatti’s four Atlantics remain well-known on America's concours circuit, but the whereabouts of the forth vehicle continues to mystify historians and enthusiasts alike. Should the lost Bugatti, ‘La Voiture Noire’, surface on the market, its value would exceed $100 million.
This scale model won’t command such a hefty premium, but it’s no less of a marvel. Handcrafted and finished in the Amalgam workshop with the co-operation and assistance of Bugatti themselves – this is as close to the real thing as you can get.
Employing sophisticated digital scanning, the 1:8 model boasts scale-perfect recreation of every detail. Bugatti’s engineering and design teams have scrutinised Amalgam’s efforts to ensure complete accuracy of representation. Needless to say, the end result is spectacular.
Various urban legends outline possible fates of the real ‘La Voiture Noire’. Some claim that the car boarded a ship out of France before Germany invaded in May 1940 – lost at sea upon making an escape, thanks to the unrestricted nature of submarine warfare at the time.
Others have stated that it was destroyed to prevent the Bugatti falling foul of enemy hands. Of course, it may still be out there. Wrapped up in a disused barn under swathes of debris and sheeting.
In the meantime, rather than scraping $100 million together in hope of locating ‘La Voiture Noire’, why not opt for the next best thing? Retailing at £8845, the Amalgam model makes for the perfect addition to any collection.
You can find out more about the 1938 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic 'La Voiture Noire' through Amalgam's official website.
