When the Bugatti Type 57 S Atlantic #57473 was restored by André Lecoq!
You probably know the story of La Voiture Noire, the Bugatti 57 Atlantic lost during the Second World War, one of the 4 built by Jean Bugatti in the mid-1930s, let us tell you that of chassis #57473, which is just as incredible...
This story begins in Paris on December 11, 1936 when the Holzschuh couple took delivery of their Bugatti Type 57S Atlantic, the third of 4 ever built.
In 1937, the car won a competition of elegance in Juan-les-Pins, but certain elements had already been modified by the Figoni bodyshop, notably the headlights, the rear design and the more decorative interior.
In 1939, Holzschuh hid the Atlantic in Monaco but died in 1945 without heirs. It was in 1952 that the car was sold by the owner of the garage, Pierre Boncompagni, to René Chatard, a famous shirt maker from Paris who already owned several Bugattis.
The latter registered the Bugatti in the name of one of his mistresses, a certain Marguerite Schneider.
Unfortunately, it was in the company of his second mistress Janine Vacheron that on August 22, 1955 the car was hit by a train at a level crossing in the French countryside, causing the death of the two passengers.
Later, a young engineer passionate about Bugatti, Paul-Andre Berson, discovered the remains of chassis #57473 and managed to recover a mountain of scrap metal for free, including certain parts from the Atlantic.
Condition of the Bugatti Atlantique during its restoration by Paul-Andre Berson.
His goal was to recreate Bugatti Atlantic #57473, but he mainly used parts from other cars. Indeed, when Mr. Berson's car was examined by experts, only the shock absorbers could be confirmed as original from Atlantic #57473.
The Bugatti Atlantic restored by Paul-Andre Berson.
In 1977, Paul-Andre Berson sold all the scrap metal to Nicolas Seydoux, who bought a type 57 chassis and asked Carrosserie Lecoq to rebuild a car that looked like a Bugatti Atlantic.
The Carrosserie Lecoq team alongside their restoration.
In 2006, its new European owner decided to complete its restoration by entrusting this task to Paul Russell who had already restored Ralph Lauren's Type 57 and who will use original parts abandoned in the 1960s. After 3 years of restoration, The Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic #57473 is on display at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in its original condition, with modifications made by the Figoni bodyshop.
And here are some exclusive photos from the Carrosserie Lecoq teams around their creation.
