A 7x5" vintage photo (NOT a modern reprint) from a collection of Bugatti automobile photos that we acquired at auction from the estate of the Mullin Automotive Museum and Gallery.
Provenance: Mullin Automotive Museum was a private museum in Oxnard, California, dedicated primarily to French Art Deco automobiles and design, especially pre-World War II marques like Bugatti, Delahaye, and Talbot-Lago. Founded by collector Peter Mullin, it became known for its world-class collection of rare coachbuilt cars before closing to the public after his passing and transitioning portions of the collection to other institutions. Professionally packaged in a rigid mailer for safe delivery.
Photo Overview
A Bugatti Type 57S Atlantic coupe, chassis 57374, photographed in England bearing the registration plate DGJ 758. This is one of the most celebrated and valuable automobiles ever built, and this photograph captures it in its early configuration before the headlight fairings were fitted - a detail noted on the back of the print. The car is shown parked on what appears to be a gravel drive beneath trees, its extraordinary teardrop body and signature dorsal seam fin clearly visible. The Atlantic's swooping fenders, enclosed rear wheels, and radical aerodynamic coachwork by Jean Bugatti make it instantly recognizable as one of the rarest cars in existence.
This print comes from the Geoffrey Goddard Collection, a well-known British automotive photography archive based in Camberley, Surrey, and was acquired from the Mullin Automotive Museum collection. The back is annotated "Bob Oliver Atlantic 57374/2S" and "early version before headlight/swan faired." The car is identified as the Atlantic owned by Robert "Bob" Oliver, a British Bugatti enthusiast.
Historical Notes
Only four Bugatti Type 57S Atlantics were ever built between 1936 and 1938, designed by Jean Bugatti, Ettore's eldest son. Chassis 57374 was the second Atlantic produced, delivered new in 1936. The car passed through several British owners over the decades, including Bob Oliver, who is referenced on the back of this photograph. The "early version before headlight/swan faired" notation refers to the fact that this particular chassis was later modified to incorporate the teardrop headlight fairings that are now its most iconic feature - this photo captures the car before that modification, with exposed headlamps.
The Atlantics have become the most valuable Bugattis in history. Chassis 57374 was eventually acquired by Peter Mullin, founder of the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, where it became the crown jewel of his collection. In 2010, a different Atlantic (chassis 57591, known as the "Holzschuch" Atlantic) sold at auction for over $30 million, making it one of the most expensive cars ever sold. The fourth Atlantic, chassis 57453 (the "La Voiture Noire"), has been missing since World War II and is considered the most valuable lost car in the world. Jean Bugatti himself was tragically killed in 1939 at age 30 while testing a racing car near the Molsheim factory.
Text Present
Front of photo: License plate reads: DGJ 758
Back of photo (handwritten in blue ink, upper left): C79 A. Bob Oliver Atlantic 57374 / 2 S early version before headlight/swan faired.
Back of photo (printed label, center right): PHOTOGRAPH FROM:- THE GEOFFREY GODDARD COLLECTION 6 Longdown Road Little Sandhurst Camberley, Surrey GU17 8QG Phone: 0344 772002 REPRO FEE TO BE NEGOTIATED
Print analysis
This is a later photographic print from the Geoffrey Goddard Collection, a well-known British automotive archive. The Goddard Collection label on the back indicates this was printed as a commercial archive print, likely in the 1980s or 1990s given the phone number format and label style. The original photograph would date to approximately the late 1930s or 1940s based on the car's early headlight configuration and the style of the British registration plate. This is a Type 2 photograph - printed from original or copy negatives decades after the image was originally captured.
Condition
Please see photos for condition. In fair to good vintage condition.