Rare '37 Bugatti found in Britain

This 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante was found in a garage in Gosforth, England, after the death of the owner, an elderly doctor who last used it about 1960. It will be auctioned next month. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

LONDON - Relatives of Dr. Harold Carr found an extremely rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante as they were going through his belongings after his death.

The dusty two-seater, unused since 1960, was found in a garage in Gosforth, near Newcastle in northern England. The car is one of only 17 made, and when it is auctioned in Paris next month, appraisers believe it will fetch at least $4.3 million and possibly much more.

Bugatti once represented the height of motoring achievement. It could go up to 130 miles per hour when most other cars topped out about 50 mph.

This particular car is even more valuable because it was originally owned by Earl Howe, a prominent British race car driver, and because its original equipment is intact, so it can restored without relying on replacement parts. Bonhams will auction the car Feb. 7.

ASSOCIATED PRESS