A Swiss Collector Took his Classic Bugatti on the World’s Most Expensive Road Trip
Bugatti owner Fritz Burkhard drove his $30 million 1937 Type 57 Atalante across America, making it the most valuable one-car Detour we’ve ever seen.
Burkhard began his 3,600-mile road trip at the Audrain Auto Museum in Rhode Island where his Bugatti had undergone a complete restoration and set off for Monterey California in time for the annual Car Week. In 2024 Burkhard won the Concours d’Elegance, but this year he decided not to treat the Bugatti like a garage queen.
“Those people who don’t use their car and just have it as an object of art they miss about 70-80 per cent of the fun because they’re made for driving,” Burkhard told KSBW Action News 8. “I wanted to show that it’s possible. I mean if I can drive a pre-war Bugatti across your beautiful country you can do it in a 60s car or 70s car and just go out and enjoy.”
“We took a just-restored car and broke it in on the ride,” added the museum’s Chairman Nicholas Schorsch, who supplied a Ford Mustang chase car with two mechanics just in case.
Having successfully completed this trans-continental drive Burkhard appears to ready for another adventure. “Maybe this time north to south.”
Bugatti owner Fritz Burkhard drove his $30 million 1937 Type 57 Atalante across America, making it the most valuable one-car Detour we’ve ever seen.