Prized Bugattis
@ianmartin.photos(1-3), @fury396(4-9)
Those who attended the recent Arizona Concours d'Elegance were treated to a pair of very special Bugattis- the 1936 Bugatti Type 57sc Atlantic and the 2023 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 57 One of One. It was also the first time that these two were publicly seen together. We went straight to the source, and asked this year's class host of the cars for his insight on the local gems.
@joeadrift(1-4), @essence_of_aesthetics(5,6)
Interviewing the Class Host - Michael Norris
Q - What is something that the public may not have known about the showcase of these Bugattis at the Arizona Concours d’Elegance?
A - "The whole class was definitely centered around bringing the Atlantic and 57 Chiron together publicly for the first time. The Chiron was a gift to the owner’s wife after she fell in love with the Atlantic, while visiting the Mullin Automotive Museum- where the Atlantic used to be displayed."
Q - We had 87 years sitting between the two cars. What would you say are some of the most evident features that have changed over the years?
A - "Obviously everyone knows Bugatti has kept the horseshoe grill from beginning to now, but Bugatti used to solely focus on racing in early Grand Prix before the eventual transition to luxury. Many of the key concepts remain the same as even the luxurious Bugattis of the prewar era still had Grand Prix DNA; just as the modern Chirons and Veyrons focus on speed on luxury. So in fairness the main philosophy of speed and luxury remain just as they were when it all began."
Q - If you were a brand ambassador for Bugatti, is there anything else you would wish was displayed?
A - "As a fan of the 90s I’d certainly have loved an EB110 on display. The middle piece of the puzzle that separates the original Ettore Bugatti company with the current Volkswagen and now transitioned to Rimac company. It’s one of the most comfortable supercars I’ve ever been in and in true Bugatti form it was built with no expenses spared to be the ultimate possible car. It would also be great to see a Type 35- one of the winningest racing cars of all time, and the most important car to the history of Bugatti in terms of cementing their legacy."
@m.l.c.photos(1-3), @simon_mendoza_photos(3-6), @rtsnapps(7-9)
Interview (Continued)
Q - What was your favorite memory from this year’s Concours?
A - "By far getting a ride in the Type 57 SC Atlantic. That’s the level of car people dream of even getting the chance to see, let alone take a ride in on a public road. Once in a lifetime even seems far fetched for that moment. That was an incredible moment."
Q - Would you take the opportunity, if you were given another chance to be a class host? Is there any specific class you think would be a better fit for your expertise and taste in automotives?
A - "I would love to do it again. The connections you make with the collectors and their handlers are absolutely worth it. I’d love to do a Le Mans class. A full range of cars can fit into that and I’ve always loved racing."
Q - A car’s worth is always a primary talking point in the car community. Sunday’s display of two prized Bugattis held the buzz of conversation on stage, which included a handful of prices that the cars could be valued within. What’s your input on this topic?
A - "The Atlantic is without a doubt one of the most valuable cars in the world. It would take an offer of at least $80 million and could potentially even be a $100 million car. Car values are an important indicator of just how special a car or its history are. This is especially true with the older cars. The cars with the best history and story have the highest values. The main difference between the Chiron and original Atlantic are the wheels. The Atlantic has dish wheels whereas the Chiron has 5 spoke wheels. Frank Heyl, Bugattis lead designer, said they tried out the dish wheel, but they created too much lift with how fast the car goes. Spokes were needed for airflow purposes. They left no stone unturned when it came to replicating the Chiron 57 to the real Atlantic"
We hope that we were able to give the pair of local gems a bit of justice today. We'd like to give a special thanks to Michael (@scottsdalecarspotting) for his time and expertise- it is always a great pleasure to open up your encyclopedia of automotive knowledge. Let us know your thoughts on this week's special edition!
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