Rob Sass
January 15, 2013
The automotive world has spawned some memorable lines in business, racing, film and music. Here are some of the all-time greatest:
“I spent a lot of money on booze, [women] and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.” — English football star George Best, whose lifestyle in the 1960s and 1970s was compared to that of Keith Moon of The Who.
“What’s behind me is not important.” — Raul Julia as fictional Italian racer driver “Franco” in the 1976 low-budget movie “The Gumball Rally.” As he utters the line, he rips the rearview mirror from his 1972 Ferrari Daytona and cavalierly tosses it over his shoulder.
Hagerty’s 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe pop up video.
“Second place is just the first-place loser.” — Dale Earnhardt. No explanation needed here.
“Ferrari’s a&$ is mine.” — The late Carroll Shelby colorfully vowing to take the world sports car constructor’s championship from Ferrari.
“Aerodynamics are for people who can’t build engines.” — Enzo Ferrari’s response to the dawn of the aerodynamics era in racing that was ushered in by companies like Jaguar and Porsche.
“I make my cars to go, not to stop.” — Ettore Bugatti, in response to a customer’s complaint about the antiquated cable-operated brakes on the Bugatti Type 35 sports car.
“It's got a cop motor, a 440-cubic-inch plant. It's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. So, is it the new Bluesmobile, or what?” — Dan Ayckroyd as the character “Elwood Blues,” describing a newly purchased police surplus car to his bother Jake in the classic movie “The Blues Brothers.”
“The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.” — Sir Henry Royce on the value proposition of the Rolls-Royce automobile.
At the other end of the spectrum check out our Stuff Car Guys Don’t Say video.
“It doesn’t cost any more to make something pretty.” — Jaguar Cars founder Sir William Lyons on the design philosophy of his firm.
“We’re gonna push those SOBs back into the Pacific.” — Lee Iacocca advising his friend Carroll Shelby not to invest in a Toyota dealership.
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