GRAND TOURING COAST TO COAST

AUDRAIN'S JOURNEY TO PEBBLE BEACH

Sean and Antonio will be following last years Best of Show Winner, Fritz Burkhard in his 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante in a 2009 Shelby Mustang GT500 KR on a cross country drive from the Audrain Automobile Museum to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

They will be documenting the series on social media and will have a few videos that go up on the YouTube channel about the journey, Pebble Beach, a highlight on Fritz, and even some behind the scenes of unedited Antonio and Sean banter! These will all be a must watch!

HELP US SAY...

Join us at the Audrain Automobile Museum at 8:30AM on Thursday, July 31st to help us send off Sean, Antonio & Fritz!

JULY 31ST | 8:30AM

AUDRAIN AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM

2009 SHELBY MUSTANG GT500 KR

Generously Donated by Bill & Elizabeth Kahane

Ford reintroduced the Shelby GT500 KR in 2008, the most powerful production Mustang at the time. 1000 units were produced that year, but demand for the KR - "King of the Road” - was so great that Ford green-lighted another production year.

An additional 712 cars were made for 2009, which were identical to the 2008 models. The KR's supercharged V-8 produced 540 horsepower, 40 more than the standard GT500, and also includes a short-throw shifter, taller, 3.73:1 rear axle and unique wheels, tires, and suspension settings. A special composite hood with hood pins, and unique stripes and badging set the KR apart from normal GT500s. The 2009 GT500 KR coupe production totaled 712, of which 110 were in Colorado Red with silver stripes. MSRP new was $43,125.

Specifications:

Engine
90-degree DOHC supercharged V-8, 330 cu in (5.4 L)
Horsepower: 540 hp @ 6,250 rpm
Torque: 510 lb ft @ 4,500 rpm

Suspension
Front: Reverse-L independent MacPherson strut, 34 mm tubular sway bar, Ford Racing front strut tower brace, uniquely tuned struts & shocks
Rear: 3-link solid axle with coil springs, Panhard rod, 24-mm solid sway bar and uniquely tuned shocks & springs

Brakes
Front: 14 in. vented Brembo disc, four-piston aluminum caliper
Rear: 11.8 in. vented disc, dual-piston caliper
ABS: Four-channel ABS system, linked to all-speed traction control & electronic brake force distribution

Wheels / Tires

GT500KR 18" x 9.5" machined aluminum with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires

Performance

0 – 60 mph: 4.3 sec
1/4-mile: 12.5 sec @ 114 mph

60 – 0 mph braking: 112 ft

1937 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante

The Bugatti Type 57 is considered to be one of the most important automobiles produced by the French manufacturer as the cash flow from its sales helped to assure Bugatti’s survival in the economically challenging 1930’s. An aging Ettore Bugatti allowed his son Jean to design and develop much of the Type 57, borrowing from earlier aspects of the Bugatti 49 and 50 while utilizing a new and improved chassis and engine. Unlike the chain driven cams on the 49 and 50, The 3.3 Liter straight 8cylinder alloy engine featured dual cam shafts turned by multiple spur gears driven off the rear of the crankshaft, increasing RPM limits and yielding more speed. These gears were manufactured from a fibrous material which allowed them to be nearly silent in operation but achieving 135 horsepower. The car’s frame was unique to the road going Type 57 whereas all previous Bugattis shared a chassis platform derived from their racing efforts. Comfort and safety were enhanced through a cross braced frame and liberal use of rubber mounting. With a focus on being a performance luxury tourer, Bugatti had created a competitive machine to the highly styled Delage and Delahaye French sportsters of the period.

This superb Bugatti Type 57, part of the Pearl Collection in Switzerland, owned by Fritz Burkhard, is chassis number 57428, which was originally built as a Roll Top Atalante model by the Bugatti factory. Just three roll top models remain in the world making this car one of the most exclusive Bugattis to survive. Many of these roll tops were rebodied as simple convertibles during the 50s and 60s. The car has been freshly restored in its original paint scheme of black and red with a black leather interior. The Pearl Collection wanted to bring the car back to its original design and embarked on a complete restoration undertaken by Scott Sergeant, a leading Bugatti specialist in Bradford, Vermont. This epic road-trip will be the first time the finished car has been driven since its completion and its destination is the world-famous Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance where it will be shown among many other superb motorcars from around the world.