Bugatti Type 57 Atalante is top lot at Revival sale

A rare 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante was the top lot in this weekend’s Goodwood Revival Sale, selling for a top estimate £1,499,000.

This original example from the marque’s ‘golden era’ is one of only a very few surviving Atalante fixed-head coupés. The Bugatti was the jewel in the crown in the collection of the late Barry Burnett, acquired as a straight swap for a Delage from another collector in the 1980s. 

The Bonhams catalogue cover car - a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT- sold away before the sale, selling in advance by mutual agreement for an undisclosed sum. 

Another collection that attracted plenty of attention was from the late Peter Phillips, former owner of the Jones Bootmaker footwear chain, with all motor cars offered this weekend being sold.

A well-known Aston Martin enthusiast, Peter’s collection was led by a 1969 DB6 Mk2 Volante to Vantage Specification, which sold for £743,000, while a 1968 DBS Vantage Sports Saloon, a replica of the car featured in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, made £135,700. 

The collection represented a century of British motoring: from a 1915 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Alpine Eagle Tourer, which sold for £264,5000, to a 2010 Bentley Brooklands Coupé which achieved £124,200 via a 1956 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé, selling for £124,200. 

Another strong result was attained by the ex-Bill Jacobs and ex-Gene Ponder1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Short-Chassis Spider with coachwork in the style of Touring (£408,250).

The Goodwood Revival Sale traditionally celebrates drivers and racing cars which would have campaigned in-period. The 2019 edition had such an example in the 1961 Cooper Climax T55 which sold for £244,375, well above its top estimate of £150,000, with all proceeds going to Race Against Dementia - the charity founded by three-times Formula One World Champion, Sir Jackie Stewart.

Sir Jackie was present at the sale, introducing the Cooper and making a heartfelt speech about the charity’s work – and how the monies raised from auctioning the Cooper, which was driven by fellow three-time World Champion Sir Jack Brabham, would make a considerable contribution to its cause. 

Other cars from the Barry Burnett collection which found new owners included a 1938 Lagonda V12 'Le Mans Replica' selling at £207,000, with a 1963 Facel Vega Facel II, one of just 26 right-hand drive versions of the French luxury grand tourer, realising £184,000.

Further notable results included a 1975 Ferrari 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer, one of only 58 right-hand drive UK-supplied cars, which made. £247,250. While a 1924 Bugatti Type 23 'Brescia' Open Tourer, in the same ownership for 35 years, made £207,000.