The Priceless Needle

‘The Lost Bugatti Atlantic: A Story of Mystery and Elegance.’

The Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic’ La Voiture Noire’ is the Holy Grail of classic cars—a masterpiece of Art Deco design and engineering brilliance.

Vanishing during WWII, its whereabouts remain an unsolved mystery.

Valued at over $100 million, enthusiasts continue the hunt for this legend. Was it hidden, destroyed, or spirited away?

Dive into the riveting tale of the car that history forgot.

In 1935, Jean Bugatti designed the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, which featured aerodynamic artistry and a supercharged engine.

Only four were ever produced.

Between 1936 and 1939, ‘La Voiture Noire’ (Chassis No. 57453) was Jean Bugatti’s personal car.

Later, racers Robert Benoist and William Grover-Williams used it before returning it to the Bugatti factory in Molsheim, France.

1939, as WWII loomed, the car was last seen at the factory.In 1940. with German forces advancing, the Atlantic is loaded

onto a train bound for Bordeaux to avoid Nazi capture.

There are four main theories on its fate:

  • Hidden by an individual who recognised its value.
  • Destroyed during an air raid.
  • Smuggled across borders.
  • Never left the factory and fell into enemy hands.

Despite extensive searches, the car remains elusive.

Experts estimate its value at over $100 million.

Its legendary status endures inspiring replicas and fuelling imaginations.

The mystery of “La Voiture Noire” persists—a timeless enigma in automotive history.

‘Finding the Atlantic is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Except the haystack is France, and the needle is priceless.’