Almost twenty years ago I wrote the review of "Bugatti Magnum" for "Bugantics" and made myself very unpopular by daring to criticise some aspects of the book; e.g. "The book has not been properly proof-read..."

One example of this is the way the same car is described as a type 35 on p. 130 and a type 37 on p. 163.

The latter is the same picture which has just been posted on the photos section.

Hugh died shortly before my review was published.

How to win friends and influence people !

<a href="http://www.bugattibuilder.com/photo/albums/userpics/10107/friderich.jpg"><img src="http://www.bugattibuilder.com/photo/albums/userpics/10107/normal_friderich.jpg" alt="Type ?"></a>

_________________
Vive la Marque !!

Bugatti Trust:
T35A

T37

The car described above as a type 35A is listed in the "Bugatti Registration Index" (prepared by The Bugatti Trust). It shows a car with registration YM 2836 as a type 37.

The picture below shows Terry Cardy's type 37.

Maurice Sauzay can answer this question
He lives in France : at Champagne au Mont d'Or

Am I to understand that the Gentleman from Wales not only dared to criticize the Great Conway, but to speak ill of Him in that Sacred Tome known as Bugantics at that, and then lived to tell the tale? You lucky, lucky ............ gentleman.

I am not saying Hugh Conway never made any mistakes, what I am saying is that it must never, ever be mentioned in polite circles. He could walk on water you know.

Please excuse my cheek, it's where I keep my tongue.

Johan

Please all do remember that certain other factors are at play:

In the past, contact was more limited. Conway was one of only little writers to publish a large number of books, which today are still of high quality, information wise.

OK, his books have errors, but he is not alone in there.

Today we see a large number of high quality Bugatti books being published, on narrow subjects. more information is available now, and more writers are using this info to produce books. also today the Internet makes it more simple to communicate and to share info. (that is what this site is all about). Conway did not have that available.

I am not writing this because I want to hail Conway, but I do feel his work is the base for the high quality stuff we are having available now.

I also feel Conway might have had a touch too much influence here and there, but that is a whole new subject.

_________________
Vive la Marque !!

Your reply got me thinking Herman, why is it that a woman can become a billionaire by writing about a boy wizard, yet even the most exquisitely researched, written and produced Bugatti titles struggle to sell more than 3000? It took Norbert Steinhauser 40 years to research his latest book, the T46 work took the combined efforts of no less than three of the best in the business, yet no author, to the best of my knowledge, has ever gotten rich from writing about Bugattis.

I agree, no author is above criticism, nor are any of them immune from making the occasional mistake. Let us just be grateful to them for being prepared to put all that effort and hard work in return for so little. Yes, I am sure that the admiration and gratitude from those of us who buy the books must give some satisfaction, but a thank you does not pay the bills now does it?

Just an observation, the authors and their publishers are a very generous lot - Norbert Steinhauser wrote an extremely moving inscription in my book, Lionel Decrey is an absolute gentleman who kept me informed at all times, and the speed and professionalism with which he acted when it seemed my book had gone missing was utterly impressive. Bohuslav Klein, Roland Saunier and Kees Jansen all e-mailed me regular updates, the last one from Bohuslav to inform me that my T46 book was posted 29/12/2009. Same with Jack du Gann, and Ard op de Weegh has become a trusted and deeply loved friend, but Bob King could not be bothered to respond. Mind you he's Australian, and we South Africans regularly humiliate them in rugby, cricket and sheep shearing. They're very bitter about that.

And then there's Jeroen. I've sung that man's praises enough, but let me just add this - he makes collecting a Bugatti library a pleasure. Whenever something new comes onto the market he is the one I check with first, do I order from him or directly from the publisher? Acting on his advise I ordered the Steinhauser and T46 works directly from the authors but Jeroen will supply the Kruta/Hucke work. Stuck out here in South Africa what I needed was someone who could not only supply both books and advise, but also be someone I can trust. There is a unique satisfaction dealing with a guy who is always, but always true to his word.

All this happened only once I joined Bugattibuilder.com. Result!

Kind Regards
Johan.

PS. To CGL Wales : You write book reviews for Bugantics? Impressive, very impressive. Interestingly enough, I recall Classic & Sports Car not giving Magnum such a great write up either, they thought it over-priced. Yet recently, in their collector book section they said it is yet to be bettered. No, Hugh Conway was by no means perfect, but he did leave behind one hell of a legacy. What was he like, I wonder. I think he was a great man, but was he a good man? Was he kind and friendly?

errors/faults/missing facts

steinhausers book is quite interesting, the biographical notes of many people
quite stuning, but for ernest friderich, who was one of the most important bugatti-figures, the informations end in 1923 ????

does anybody know more about friderichs later life ? as far as I know he kept his garage up to the 6o`s and when he retired sold it with lots of photos and documents to raffaeli...

regards
mike