A 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC sports tourer is the standout lot of Bonhams' Amelia Island sale in Florida on March 10.

It's expected to sell for around $11m-13m.

The Bugatti Type 57CS is one of the most desirable cars of the 1930s

The 57SC is one of the world's great rarities, with only a handful built. Very few have appeared on the market, with the majority locked away in the world's great collections.

The car was among the most luxurious of its era and was also one of the fastest, easily capable of reaching speeds over 100mph.

The present lot features unique coachwork from Belgian maker Vanden-Plas - inspired by the company's work on Bentleys during the 1920s - and retains many of its original features.  

Bugatti chose it as the centrepiece of its stand at the 1938 London Motor Show. It also enjoyed a storied racing career in the US and the Caribbean.

Bonhams comments: "Authentic, well known and in impressive mechanical, structural and cosmetic condition, number 57541 embodies the very best of pre-war motoring.

"Its unbeatable combination of coachbuilt body and 1930s performance underpinnings result in a car of the highest known standards of the time.

"Athletic and tremendously aesthetic, this is the rarest of the rare and represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

The record for any Bugatti is $30m, set for a 57SC Atlantic coupe in a 2010 auction.

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