Atlanta Dream Cars – 1935 Bugatti 57S Competition Coupe Aerolithe Wears Gorgeous Elektron Magnesium Panels

This Bugatti’s name really rolls off the tongue quite nicely – even without much car for the accents and the pronunciation.

Perhaps that is because the principles of speed competitions, swoopy two-doors and lightweight, low-drag machines are so important today.

Those last two really nail the brilliance of this one home. Light and smooth was the goal of this shape, in an era when most cars (and drivers!) would be terrified above 30-mph.

This car could easily double that, and perhaps go on to about 75-mph before the tires and brakes became a serious liability.

My apologies that these photos are not as crisp as they should be. Never adjusting the Nikon autofocus IR settings again….

So why didn’t this car make it big?

It was so innovative … that people did not yet know they wanted big speed and nimble handling in a powerful hard-top coupe. Can you imagine! That is what all supercar buyers want — just 80 years later.

 Outdoor photo credit.

 

 

 

 

DREAM CARS runs through September 7th at Atlanta’s High Museum of Art.

The DREAM CARS companion hard-cover book offers outstanding descriptions, insights and photography of the collection – it is available now world-wide via the High Museum shop link below.

Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.

He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.

Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.

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