A detailed copy of the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic that disappeared without a trace will go under the hammer (28 photos)
At RM Sotheby's auction, a replica of the iconic Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic, also called La Voiture Noir, will be auctioned. It is based on a 1935 chassis. One of the most famous Bugatti disappeared without a trace during the Second World War, but was revived by engineer Eric Cooks. For a detailed copy that is suitable for daily use, they expect to earn up to 900 thousand dollars. 
In the second half of the 1930s, Bugatti built only four Atlantic coupes based on the Type 57 chassis based on the design of Jean Bugatti. The second car, which Bugatti himself used, was in France during the Nazi attack.
The owners managed to leave the country, but the sports car did not. The further fate of the car, which Jean Bugatti called his most perfect creation, is unknown. Classic car experts have repeatedly stated that if La Voiture Noir is found, it will automatically become the most expensive rarity on the planet.
A copy of the famous Bugatti was ordered by a Dutch collector in the late 1980s. By this time, Eric Cooks was already well known for his work in antique car circles for his attention to detail and meticulous construction. He used the original Bugatti Type 57 Galibier chassis as the basis for the project, and the car was completed only in 1992. The vast majority of work is done by hand.
The customer of the replica actively used the car before selling it in 2008. Auctioneers note that during this time he drove about 40 thousand kilometers and parted with the coupe only because the bumpy roads of the Netherlands more than once led to expensive repairs. The replica was transported to the Middle East, where it is now located.
In 2019, Bugatti also paid attention to this episode of its history, introducing La Voiture Noir based on the Chiron. The hypercar with a 1,500-horsepower engine received a body designed in the style of the original and at the time of its debut was considered the most expensive new car in the world. 
