Ralph Lauren’s $40 million Bugatti wins top prize at Concorso d’Eleganza

The current record for the world's most expensive car belongs to a 1938 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic sold in 2010 for somewhere between $30 million and $40 million. Should fashion designer Ralph Lauren ever sell his edition of the same car, he'll probably be able to command a slightly higher price, especially after his Atlantic swept the top awards at this year's Concorso d'Eleganza at Italy's Villa d'Este, the world's most exclusive car show.

An ardent car collector, Lauren has the fourth and final 57SC Atlantic built by the Bugatti family before the untimely death of designer Jean Bugatti, and one of only two with a well-documented history. Given that the other took the top prize at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance a few years back, these cars represent the pinnacle of collectable vehicles worldwide. Lauren's Atlantic won not only the best in show from the professional judges, but the crowd-voted Coppa d’Oro award as well.