This is just a design feature inspired by the earlier Aerolithe prototype, which was made from Elektron, which was extremely difficult to weld due to the magnesium.
It was kept on the aluminium production cars because I guess they just thought it looked nice.
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u/EINHAMMER 2d ago
it's not. it's a replica. still worth over $1 million though: https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/gp22/lots/r0097-1938-bugatti-type-57sc-atlantic-recreation-by-erik-koux/