Bitten by The ‘Bug

My fascination for vintage automobiles is well known. So is my penchant for swooning over classic cars every time I witness one. I had a hankering for this model since I laid eyes on it sometime back. The gentle souls at SOLIDO was good enough to send me one. Boy was I ecstatic when I saw it on the manifest.

Does make itself at home at a grand chateau driveway. Photo by Lance K Müller for Castheads Magazine

Bugattis in general are stratospheric vehicles. Whether it’s the latest Bolide or the Type 2 from 1901, they always extruded a sense of class and refinement that was unmistakable.

The 1930s saw th Bugatti marque expanding to include some extravagant models. The lines become smoother and the models became status symbols. One of the most distinctive models to come out of this era was the Type 57 designed by Jean Bugatti, the son of Ettore. The model range started in 1934 and extended all the way to 1940.

The sheer aerodynamic lines makes you stop breathing. Photo by Lance K Müller for Castheads Magazine

The Type 57 had a twin-cam 3257cc DHOC inline 8 that carried over from the Type 49 that was heavily modified by Jean. He worked on it till he got more power and worked the gear wheels to run more silently. Type 57 came in many iterations. But we focus on the prettiest of them all, the Type 57sc Atlantic.

Those lines harken back to a more refined era in motoring and automotive design. Photo by Lance K Müller for Castheads Magazine

The SC stood for “Surbaissé” (“Lowered”) and the “C” for “Compresseur” or supercharger that was introduced as most of the owners wanted more power for their vehicles (seems nothing has changed in the last 100 years with owners asking for more and more output from their engines). They also ensured that there was enough open mesh to dissipate the heat generated from this increased power.

Just look at those contours and tell me you have seen something prettier. Photo by Lance K Müller for Castheads Magazine

Only four (yes four) Atlantics were built. Originally these models were named “Coupé Aero” after its predecessor, the Type 57 Aérolithe, but Jean had them changed in honour of his friend, Jean Mermoz, who crashed and perished along with his crew while trying to traverse the Atlantic ocean. Three out of the four are accounted for… one remains shrouded in myth and legend, its whereabouts unknown.

If desire had a shape… this would be it. Photo by Lance K Müller for Castheads Magazine

This isn’t the first version released by SOLIDO. The first 1:18 Atlantic was released in 2018, in Black and Dark Blue in 2019. Though not as refined as models released by CMC and Minichamps or as pricey, the representation is pretty decent. The model is crafted in bright blue (and not really grey blue metallic as mentioned in the website). The details aren’t super fantastic, but as an entry/mid-range level model, its great. This is meant for your office mantelpiece or as boardroom decor. Makes a great conversational piece in any environment. Also shows refinement as a collector. Having this behind you during your Zoom or Microsoft Team video conferences is going to elevate your standing among your bosses.

The interior isn’t the best, it isn’t the worst either. But a little more detail would’ve gone a long way. Photo by Lance K Müller for Castheads Magazine

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