Swiss man drives a $30M 1937 Bugatti 3,600 miles to California for one important reason
Published on Aug 15, 2025 at 2:15 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Aug 14, 2025 at 3:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A Swiss man drove his $30 million 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante classic car 3,600 miles across the United States to California for a very important reason.
Classic car collector Fritz Burkhard from Switzerland had the car restored by the Audrain Auto Museum, and then promptly drove the rare classic across America for it to take part in the Pebble Beach Car Week.
Burkhard knew that the car was nearly 90 years old. But he said that even though it was old and a work of art, it should be driven as its manufacturer intended.
His trip showed that even the oldest of classic cars can still complete impressive mileage.
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Why Burkhard drove his 1937 Bugatti across the U.S.
There is one very simple reason why Burkhard drove the car across America.
While he is an avid collector, he doesn’t believe cars should just sit around.
In an interview with KSBW, he said those who don’t drive them are missing out on 70-80 percent of the fun.
He admitted that the cars are pieces of art, but they should be driven as intended.
Burkhard had teamed up with the auto museum in Rhode Island to get the car restored for its long trip.
Having won the concours d’elegance in 2024, this time he wanted to show the car’s history while proving it can be driven over long distances.
In total, the car covered at least 3,600 miles on the road trip.
The car went through a huge restoration
The Audrain Motor Museum worked hard to ensure the 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante was ready for the trip.
It had barely been run in before heading off on its adventure.
Because of that, a more modern Ford Mustang followed the Bugatti to act as a support vehicle.
Chairman of the museum, Nicholas Schorsch, said that the car was broken in during its 3,600-mile adventure.
The museum and Burkhard are already planning another adventure with the iconic Bugatti.
Its high value means that frequent road trips will probably be quite rare.
The 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante is one of the rarest versions of the Type 57, with just 17 ever made.
One was rediscovered in a private garage in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the UK in 2008, selling for €3.4 million ($3.9m).
The $30 million value for this restored example, however, shows just how valuable they are.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
