Look what I found

(by Bas de Voogd) Wandering through historic Brussels I suddenly found myself in the street where at one time the master Bugatti recreator Dobilier used to reside. Standing in the sunshine opposite the ‘Dobilier’ workshop I was approached by an older gentleman who asked what I was staring at. On my answer that I was interested in Bugatti history the man turned a smile on his face and said to me: “come with me and I will show you something which may interest you”. We walked a couple of houses back and went through some large doors into a sort of gangway which brought us to a dark and dusty workshop. “This is where all the Dobilier Bugattis were made” the old man said. The place was crammed with very old tools and materials, wheeling machines, all sorts of presses, folding benches etc. He introduced himself as Jean Marie Bats. For many years he ran a workshop for “Tolerie & Soudure” which is panelwork and welding. There were still some of his works of art around but helas no Bugattis. He took me to his house above the workshop and gave me the attached picture. Jean was quite a caracter and we stayed in touch for some time untill he suddenly dissappeared from the scene. What became of the old workshop is unknown.

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