A 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS “Goute d’Eau” coupe was the headline lot of RM Sotheby’s classic car sale in Italy.

It achieved $3.7m when it crossed the block at Villa Erba on May 27.

The Talbot Teardrop is among the most eye-catching cars that the marque ever produced 

The model is known as “the Teardrop” for its sweeping bodywork, designed by renowned French maker Figoni et Falaschi.

It was hidden during the second world war, although it’s thought to have sustained damage during the fighting.

In 1946 it passed into the hands of a Swiss owner, who had the coachwork converted to something a little less audacious.

In 2000 it was sold on to a new owner, who commissioned specialist Auto Classique Touraine to bring it back to its original styling.

A 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante prototype realised $3.3m.

The model is one of only 36 produced between 1936 and 1938, making it one of the rarest iterations of Bugatti’s celebrated Type 57 series.

The car is in remarkably good shape for its age, having accrued just 26,000km over its 80 year history – the vast majority in its first few years of use.

As with the Talbot, it was driven up until the outbreak of the second world war and was placed in storage for the duration.

It was driven for a short time in the 1950s before going back into storage until the late 90s.

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