Bugatti Aerolithe Was Put Together Based on Photos and Jay Leno Loves It

The car seen here is not the real deal, though. Shortly after the machine was unveiled at the 1925 Paris Motor Show and blew people away with its fantastic shape, it disappeared without a trace.

And so the Guild of Automotive Restorers in Ontario, Canada made this perfect replica which is all the more impressive when you consider what they to go on. No details plans or schematics, just 11 ultra-rare photos of the concept.

It's not surprising that it took them thousands of hours to complete. The other issue: the bodywork is made from magnesium-alloy. It's notoriously hard to work with and is the reason it's riveted together down the middle.

Jay Leno finds out the hard way that, like many cars of that era, the Aerolith isn't easy to drive. Its power comes from a 3.3-liter inline-8 and the gearbox lacks the convenience we take for granted now.

Despite being put together in the modern era, this isn't described as a replica, as the chassis, engine, transmission and rear axle are all real Bugatti units, these belonging to chassis 4 of the legendary Type 57. Mind you, we're dealing with a concept car and not the production Atlantic that followed. As a result, it has no wipers.

The value of such a car is in the tens of millions, and only Jay Leno would be allowed to film a full review and test drive. Putting the first few miles on the clock must feel like such an honor, even for him.