Bugatti drives classic price.

FORGOTTEN, unloved and abandoned - it eventually sold for pounds 3m.

The 1937 Bugatti Type 57S was bought by a telephone bidder when it went under the hammer at Bonham's Retromobile car show in Paris.

As revealed in the Chronicle last year, stunned relatives were left the classic motor when reclusive Dr Harold Carr, from Gosforth, Newcastle, died two years ago, aged 89, and had no idea how valuable it would be.

Now his eight heirs will each get a pounds 380,000 share of the pounds 3,043,293.

One of his nephews, who didn't want to be named, said he had been "overwhelmed" by the experience.

The engineer, from Gosforth, said: "I'm going to miss it in a way. That's why I will never sell Uncle Harry's watch. But taking care of a car like that was actually quite a responsibility.

"I feel Harry would be proud that we've done the right thing, and the Bugatti has gone to an owner who will really appreciate it."

The classic motor still has its original chassis, engine, drive train and body and appears to have a remarkably low mileage of just 25,284.

The doctor's car was originally owned by racing enthusiast Francis Curzon, the 5th Earl Howe, who was the first president of the British Racing Driver's Club.

It then changed hands a couple of times before Dr Carr bought the car in 1955 from Lord Ridley.

CAPTION(S):

FORTUNE: The 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Coupe, and inset, Dr Harold Carr