Ralph Lauren owns one of only three surviving $100 million Bugatti 57SC Atlantics
- This rare Bugatti 57SC Atlantic belongs to Ralph Lauren
- A mere four were ever made, and this is one of only three surviving
- It’s thought to be worth $100 million
Published on Nov 09, 2024 at 4:32 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Nov 04, 2024 at 7:20 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
From sartorial to supercars, fashion icon Ralph Lauren knows good style – and his rare Bugatti 57SC Atlantic is no different.
A mere four were ever made and this is one of only three surviving examples in its original form.
It’s the epitome of Art Deco automotive design.
So what is it worth? A cool $100 million.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Rare Bugatti 57SC Atlantic of Ralph Lauren
The $100 Million Bugatti 57SC Atlantic is no ordinary runaround.
Even within the enviable car collection of Ralph Lauren – this classic car stands out.
The Art-Deco beauty was labeled the ‘Pope Atlantic’ after its first owner, British tennis player Richard B. Pope.
However, it changed hands several times before Ralph Lauren acquired the vehicle in 1988.
He commissioned Paul Russell of Essex, Massachusetts, US, to restore it over 9,600 hours spanning a period of two years.
Originally finished in a shade of Rich Sapphire Blue, Lauren chose to repaint the sleek and low car black, to complement its opulent curves.
The rare car even went on to win the prestigious ‘Best in Show’ at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in 2013.
Not just a pretty face, under the hood a 3.3-liter inline-eight engine, delivers 210HP through a four-speed manual transmission reaching a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph).
The rest of the car collection
Lauren’s collection started in the 1970s with the 1971 Mercedes 280SE 4.5 convertible.
In the fifty years since he’s accumulated a stash worth millions.
One eye-catching number among his haul is the 1996 McLaren LM F1, which comes in a distinctive orange.
With 620HP and a top speed of 386km/h (240mph), this speedy dynamo can go from 0-97km/h (0-60mph) in 3.2 seconds.
The F1 LM was so powerful that the engine bay had to be lined with gold.
In all only six of these cars were made, with five going to customers.
Meanwhile, for a taste of something modern, Lauren has the 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari on standby.
At the time of its release, the 950HP model had more power than any Ferrari built before it – it was also the first to use hybrid technology.
Decked out in sleek dark paint, this black beauty can hit 0-97km/h (0-60mph) in an astonishing 2.4 seconds.
He’s not the only famous face with an impressive array of cars at his disposal.
Jay Leno is renowned for being a car buff with a collection of 281, and even hosts a show about automobiles called Jay Leno’s Garage.
Shaquille O’Neal is another car lover, even though he has to alter the cars to fit his giant frame.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
