In addition to the famous Rockefeller Christmas tree, the museum-grade Bugatti is proudly displayed in the heart of NYC.
Every winter, New York City slips into its own familiar rhythm. Streets glow a little warmer, storefronts lean into seasonal charm, and Rockefeller Center becomes a mecca for anyone chasing a sense of holiday cheer. The massive, colorfully lit Christmas tree usually draws all the attention, but this year, something else is stopping bystanders in their tracks. Spotted sitting inside a glass display crate outside of Christie's New York is a 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atlante, promoting the first-ever Retromobile NY just one year away . Amidst the ornaments and crowds, this pre-war masterpiece looks almost surreal, more a museum artifact than a Christmas decoration, yet perfectly at home in the middle of Manhattan.
Founded by Ettore Bugatti, the brand treated automobiles as rolling works of art long before that phrase became overused. The Type 57 line, introduced in the 1930s under the guidance of Ettore’s son Jean Bugatti, marked a high point in that philosophy. Elegant, technically advanced, and unmistakably dramatic, these examples set new standards for performance and design in the pre-war era. The Atlante variant, defined by its dramatic coupe silhouette and central dorsal seam, was the most striking expression of that vision.
The “S” in Type 57S stands for Surbaissé, or “lowered,” and it wasn’t just a stylistic choice. With a dropped chassis, dry-sump lubrication, and supercharged straight-eight power in some versions, the 57S was a serious sports car disguised as haute couture. Only a handful of Atlantés were ever built, making each surviving example a cornerstone of automotive history. Its influence still echoes through Bugatti’s modern hypercar lineup.
Provenance plays a big role in the Atlante’s mysterious legacy. Over the years, examples have been owned by some of the most respected collectors in the world, and when they trade hands, they do so at staggering numbers. Documented sales have reached eight-figure territory, with top examples rumored to exceed $30 million privately, positioning the Type 57S Atlante among the most valuable collector cars in existence. Seeing one displayed publicly, especially in a place as iconic as Rockefeller Center, is like a gift in itself.
Image Source: Jacob Hopkins
