Polish Designer Updates Bugatti Type 57 Atalante

There are things that should not be messed with. One of those things is the 1938 Bugatti Type 57. Widely considered one of the most beautiful creations in automotive history, the Type 57 was available in many different iterations, ranging from the Type 57C Tank that won the French GP and 24 Hours of Le Mans, to the Type 57SC (of which only two were built), to the shapely Atlantic coupe.

 

While the Type 57 Atlantic gets all the press (they’ve gone for between $30 and $40 million at auction), the Atalante, a coupe that followed the Atlantic but used a single-piece windshield and lacked a roof fin, are nearly as rare (only 17 were produced). Now, an intrepid Polish designer, Pawel Czyzewski, has penned an update to the Type 57 Atalante. And it is stunning.

 

The Atalante was designed by French coachbuilder Gangloff, hence the name. What strikes us about this concept is that it’s clearly inspired by the Type 57, but it avoids any tacky, retro design cues. The scallops on the doors seem to fit, and the profile is a beautiful evolution of the original. We dare you to view it from the rear three-quarters or profile and not be left slack-jawed by its beauty.