지금까지 가장 멋진 (creative)차로 잘 알려진 자동차 1936년형 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic의 주인이 바뀌었다. 단 네 대만 만들었는데 그 중에 두 세대만 아직 남아 있다고. 그 중 한대는 Fashion 회사의 Ralph Lauren이 소장하고 있다고 한다.
얼마전 작고한 Dr. Peter Willianson, 캘리포니아의 경매화사 Gooding & Company는 Williamson Bugatti 가 최근 돈 많은 사람한테 주인이 바뀌었다고 발표했다. 하지만 주인이 누구인지 얼마에 낙찰되었는지는 발표하지 않았다. 기자들은 3,000 만 ~ 4,000만 달러를 주고 사가지 않았을까 짐작할 뿐이다. 이는 1957년 형 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa가 작년에 경매됐던 가격 1,220만 달러를 훌적 넘어버렸다.
Dr. Williamson이 최근 타계하기 까지 그는 클래직 Bugatti 의 대단한 수집을 해 오고 있었다.
Gooding사가 그의 콜렉션을 도왔었으며 이제 그가 타계한 후로 그의 재산을 경매를 돕고 있다고... 그러나 Atlantic -그의 수집품 중 최고 걸작이며 2003년 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 수상 - 는 작년에 경매하지 않고 남겨놨었다. 보도에 의하면 이 차는 Gooding사를 통해서 캘리포니아 옥스나드(Oxnard)에 있는 Mullin Automotive Museum이 획득했다고 한다.
[Source: Gooding & Company]
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Mullin Automotive Museum 에서 성명을 발표하여 일부 언론에 보도된 것은 사실이 아니라고 했다. 아래 따온 글 참조하기 바란다.
The Mullin Automotive Museum released a statement on Wednesday saying that, contrary to media reports, it was not the buyer of the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic.
“We . . . suspect there has been a transposition of information based on a private conversation that the museum had with the buyer,” the statement said.
The statement did not contradict published reports that the car sold for between $30 million and $40 million, which would make it the most expensive car ever to change hands, and about three or four times more than the highest-priced car ever sold at a public auction, a pontoon-fendered 1957 Ferrari Testarossa that went for $12 million last year. We'd say this one was worth it.
This is one of just three Atlantics ever built. Each is distinct, and all three were derived from the Bugatti Aerolithe Electron Coupe prototype shown at the 1935 Paris auto salon.
This car wears chassis No. 57374 and is the first in the series. It was named Best in Show at the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
The car formerly was part of the Williamson Bugatti Collection, and Gooding & Co. was the broker for the family trust that owned the car. Seldom seen in recent years, the car has taken on an almost mythical status.
So where is it going now?
“The Atlantic's buyer has contacted the Mullin Automotive Museum and suggested that we may have the opportunity to display the Atlantic, on a limited basis, later this year,” it said.
So maybe you can see this beautiful, Pebble-winning car soon. The Mullin museum has finally released two dates during which it will be open to the public: May 22 and June 12. Be sure to call for reservations, (805) 385-5400. While you won't be able to see the Atlantic yet, the collection is so stunning you might not miss it.
So who was the Atlantic buyer (or buyers)? It ain't us, that's all we know.
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