This is the one-off, 1934 Bugatti Aerolithe Re-Creation, a design originally crafted by designed by Ettore Bugatti’s son, Jean Bugatti. Only a year after the Aerolithe’s big debut during the 1935 Earl’s Court Motor Show in the U.K., it seemingly disappeared from existence. It’s possible the original car was destroyed during world war 2, is hiding away in storage or perhaps Bugatti stripped the car down for parts. At the time, the design of the Aerolithe was quite radical for the automotive industry, and ultimately, after a short period of time passed, the project was forgotten about and lost forever. That was until 2012 when the World Monuments Fund acquired a Type 57 chassis, and came up with a brilliant idea. With this, a team of expert craftspeople at the Guild of Automotive Restorers was commissioned to re-create a modern interpretation of the legendary Aerolithe, using nothing but old photography, a painting, and a few other blueprints and plans. Led by David Grainger, the team began to reconstruct the Aerolithe over a five year period using an original non-supercharged Type 57 chassis and an original engine. Being that the original Aerolithe was made 98% of magnesium, Grainger and his team needed to learn how to bend and shape magnesium (which is not the easiest thing to do). In the end, the team was able to create a new Aerolithe, built as closely to original specifications as possible. The aluminum body production Type 57 Atlantic’s were built in four total units. The first car created was the “La Voiture Noire,” an all black Atlantic created for Jean Bugatti himself. The second Atlantic, chassis number 57374, built in 1936, went to British banker Victor Rothschild. The third Atlantic, also black, chassis number 57473 got destroyed when hit by a train in 1955. Chassis number 57591 remains in tact, originally colored blue, and part of the Ralph Lauren Collection. Jean Bugatti’s Aerolithe show car was built on chassis number 57104.
How many made? 1 of 1.
Debut: 1935 Earl’s Court Motor Show
Engine: 3.3L eight-cylinder - 148hp.
Top Speed: around 110mph
0-60mph: N/A
Photo Credit: @aldairion
Research: @rarecarsonly