Individual Perfection Over Mass Production

“Five cars produced in a year . . . this, of course, is what strikes one most. The production rate soon increased con- siderably; yet even when Bugatti cars were famed the world over each one was still built, finished and tuned as though it were a unique model being made for a particular customer, and requiring the personal attention of its constructor. Such an attitude was by no means as rare at that time as it would be today; mass production was still unknown, and cars were hand-built for the most part, each an expression”

“Of a creator’s personality. But probably none was as con- “cerned as Bugatti to perpetuate this situation. Faced with the attractions of large-scale series production and lower costs, he retained his independent outlook, his freedom to invent, and his urge for perfection down to the smallest de- tails. Production costs meant nothing to him, once he was set on an idea. He took little notice of trends among rival car manufacturers, and paid no more attention to the pre- sumed tastes of the public. It is all the more remarkable that the public followed his so often. Such was the case with the first type he produced at Molsheim.”