Not long ago, someone posted photos on Reddit claiming they depicted the legendary Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic, also known as the original La Voiture Noire, which vanished without a trace eight decades ago. However, the story proved more complicated than it seemed at first.
Had the original car been found, it would have been among this world’s most expensive vehicles with a rough price estimate of $114 - $120 million. However, The Drive conducted an investigation and was able to prove they were unrelated to the mysterious coupe from the past. The fake images have been deleted since then.
After surveying multiple experts savvy in Bugatti exotics, The Drive learned that the original Type 57 SC Atlantic came equipped with a turbocharged inline eight-cylinder engine, whereas the example on the photos had what looked like a naturally aspirated engine of the standard Type 57.
Other elements proved problematic as well. For one, the frame looked like the regular Type 57, while the Atlantic had less ground clearance and special suspension at the rear end.
Another theory being considered right now is that the car in the images is the Aerolithe Concept that debuted in Paris, came back to the factory, and never left it again.
One out of four Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic units based on Jean Bugatti’s own blueprints was sent away from Molsheim by train in an attempt to prevent Nazi soldiers from destroying it. However, it never made it to its destination city of Bordeaux.