Venturi 300 Atlantique
French motoring madness at its finest.
First off, let’s talk about the looks. Some say it’s Ferrari F355 meets Toyota MR2. I say sacrebleu - it’s beautiful!
The Venturi 300 Atlantique is precision curves and seamless lines that make you think it could have been sculpted by Michelangelo himself. It’s a custom-tailored suit with tires.
Now, I know what your thinking: Most French cars are pretty, but does it go fast? Let me quote Jezza himself, “[It’s] like having your own personal fighter jet.” The turbocharged 3.0L V6 is good for 277 horsepower — and it’s basically the same engine used in the Alpine A610.
But the Venturi 300 Atlantique is more than just style and mid-mounted, rear wheel drive horsepower. The 300 handles like a ballet dancer on a racetrack; the precision-tuned suspension gives you just the right amount of feedback without rattling your fillings loose.
Of course, all this comes at a price. The Venturi 300 Atlantique is a rare piece of French artistry that only a lucky few will ever get their hands on. Only 57 examples in two versions — with and without turbochargers — were ever made.
Yet, the Venturi 300 Atlantique’s true brilliance is in its subtlety — an ode to French ingenuity and motoring excellence.
CROSSING THE BLOCK
This stunning 1997 Venturi 300 Atlantique sold for € 131,120 in March of 2022 at a Artcurial auction in Paris, France. It was the most recent auction result I could find.
WATCHING
Watch a much, much, much younger Richard Hammond give a review of the Atlantique.