Bugatti 57104 was the fourth Type 57 chassis built by Bugatti. It is the oldest surviving Type 57 known. When this car was being restored it was decided to exactly recreate the famous aero coupe called the “Elektron” Coupe or the Aerolithe.
The original car has been fabricated from magnesium, as is this recreation. After being shown at the Paris Auto Show in October 1935 and being driven briefly in England in 1936, the car disappeared forever. This left only a handful of photographs as proof that it had ever existed. Interestingly enough, although this design proved a commercial failure for Bugatti, it influenced many of the important European coach-builders to create aerodynamic, art deco masterpieces for the balance of the 1930's.
The recreation cost millions to build, but it is a perfect recreation of the mysterious original Aerolithe.
You may purchase a print in our dElegance 2014 online gallery.