Classic Bugatti sold for €3,417,500 ($4.45 million)

Coming across a barn find is like finding buried treasure. We came across one of these uncovered treasures back in January with the Bugatti Type 57S Atalante that was locked away in a British garage for almost fifty years. Now this one of seventeen ever made crossed the block this past Saturday in Paris at Bonhams Retromobile auction. The final price: €3,417,500 (about $4.45 million).

This particular Bugatti was originally owned by Earl Howe, the first president of the British Racing Driver’s Club. The Earl took delivery of the Bugatti super car in 1937 and held onto it for eight years. The car then changed hands a few times and finally went to Newcastle resident Dr. Harold Carr in 1955.

Carr drove the Bugatti until 1960 when he decided to store the Bugatti in his Tyneside garage indefinitely. After Dr. Carr’s death in 2007 his relatives discovered the car covered with dust and only 26,284 miles on the odometer.

Although impressive, this sale does not represent a record for Bugatti prices. A 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante sold $7.92 million back in August in Pebble Beach.