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Ettore Bugatti Quotes

9 quotes from Ettore Bugatti — Italian-born French automobile designer and founder of Bugatti..

I build my cars to go, not to stop.

Innovation

Nothing is too beautiful, nothing is too expensive.

Art

Mr. Bentley – He builds fast trucks.

Competition

The most beautiful man-made object.

Pablo Picasso, on the Bugatti engine

Loud in voice, high in colour, overflowing with life, a brown bowler sitting on the back of his head, he looked more like a horseman strayed among motor-cars. Nevertheless his brilliant life was interspersed with difficulties and catastrophes and came to an end amid material and mental problems… Bugatti was pure artist; his only scientific knowledge resulted from experience which increased with the years, and a natural mechanical ability aided by a gift of observation. He did not believe in calculations, formulae or principles. He joked about pages of mathematical figures and about integration signs which he called violin holes. He had happily the wisdom to surround himself with talented engineers whom he paid generously, but demanded from them total anonymity.

J. A. Grégoire, L'Aventure Automobile, 1953

I make my cars to go, not to stop!

Ettore Bugatti

Sir, if you can afford a Type 35, you can surely afford a heated garage!

Ettore Bugatti, to a customer complaining about cold starts

The man's table manners are beyond belief.

Ettore Bugatti, on King Zog of Albania

Bugatti was pure artist; his only scientific knowledge resulted from experience which increased with the years, and a natural mechanical ability aided by a gift of observation. He did not believe in calculations, formulae or principles.

J. A. Grégoire, L'Aventure Automobile, 1953

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