One of world's rarest cars sold for £3 million after being abandoned in garage for 50 years

For all you car junkies out there, this one is for you.

I'm sure you've all got that dream car that you'd be willing to spend far too much on, or you've dreamt on the many millions you'd spend on a motor if you were to win the lottery. Just me?

Well, this rare car was certainly a catch for its new owner despite the massive £3 million that departed their bank account for the privilege of owning it.

Back in 2009, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57S was found at the home of compulsive hoarder Dr Harold Carr, alongside many piles of medical machinery, 1,500 beer steins, thousands of receipts and a World War Two spy drone. This man really loved collecting things.

Well, after he died at the age of 89 in 2007, his family went through his belongings at his home when they found the profitable discovery.

Bonhams

But surely, they never expected to get as much dollar as they did.

The extremely rare Bugatti was originally owned by racing enthusiast Earle Howe, who was actually the first ever president of the British Racing Driver's Club.

After it was first completed in 1937, Earle took control of the car and kept it for eight years before he ended up selling it.

Dr Carr purchased the car in 1955 from Lord Ridley after the car had changed hands a couple times already.

Back in 1955, Dr Carr purchased the car for the sum of £895 - equivalent of just over £30,000 in today's certainly unstable financial market.

But Dr Carr only drove the Bugatti for a few years before it was parked in a garage and left there for nearly fifty years when his family discovered it.

The rare vehicle was placed under the hammer at the Bonhams' Retromobile car show and sale in Paris and sold for a staggering £3,043,293.

PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Speaking to the Daily Mail, a nephew of Dr Carr who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We knew he had some cars, but we had no idea what they were.

"It was a bit of local folklore that he had a Bugatti, but no one knew for sure.

"It's worth so much because he hasn't used it for 50 years. It was one of the original supercars.

He continued: "When it was built it could reach 130mph at a time when other cars could only do 50mph. "Of course we are delighted and we're going to make sure the money is shared out among the family.

"It's a wonderful thing to leave."

Topics: Cars

Callum Jones

@CallumJ2709