Racing into record books

Jan 10 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A RARE Bugatti supercar discovered in a Tyneside garage more than 50 years after the death of its eccentric owner has been cleaned-up before it is sold at auction.

The 1937 Type 57S Atalante was one of just 17 built by the company and its existence was known to only a handful of people during the last half century.

Originally owned by Earl Howe, it was discovered by the family of Dr Harold Carr in his garage in Gosforth, Newcastle. The bachelor died in June 2007 aged 89 and had not driven the 130mph car since 1960.

He left the garage to his nephews and nieces, who knew nothing of its valuable contents. Dr Carr also had several other classic vehicles.

The Bugatti, which went on display in Hartney Wintney in Hampshire yesterday, is to be sold at Bonhams’ Retromobile sale in Paris on February 7 with an estimated guide price of £2.75m to £4m.

Yesterday motor experts at Bonhams revealed the engine has not been started since it was discovered.

International managing director James Knight said: “That privilege will belong to the new owner.

“Our specialists have checked the engine and decided it should be left to whoever buys it, using their own nominated engineers. Of course, we’re not making the car’s location public knowledge, but there is someone with it all of the time.”

The car was left to gather dust for 48 years since its last tax disc expired in December 1960.

Dr Carr paid £895 for it in 1955. And now Dr Carr’s heirs will be transformed into millionaires overnight when the piece of motoring history goes under the hammer.

His nephew, an engineer from Gosforth, Newcastle, said: “We just can’t believe it.

“We knew he had some cars and a Bugatti. No one knew how much it was worth.

“It’s amazing, really. It’s worth so much because he hasn’t used it for 50 years. It was one of the original supercars.

“When it was built it could reach 130mph when most cars could only do 50.” A severe obsessive compulsive, Dr Carr became increasingly reclusive in his later years, only letting his nephew into the house.

When the property was cleared, dozens of notes from would-be buyers of the French supercar were found inside.

In recent years, similar but less sought-after models have sold privately for millions of pounds. If the 57S reaches top estimates, it could rocket into the history books as the most expensive car ever sold at auction.