Irish tour in a Lancia

Sir,

In emulation of several descriptions of longish runs with old cars, may I be enabled to participate ?

My wife and I did a three weeks’ tour in Ireland last summer, using my 1930 Lancia Dilambda. We decided to use the old bus because of its great comfort, and leave my 1948 sports job at home. Total mileage when back home again was 2,300. The trip to Fisliguard was taken fairly easy, in two days, as I had to make a stop of some hours in London on the way. This car has a fast touring speed, however, keeping up 60 to 70 mph all day, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the car doing 20 miles per gallon (32-hp V8). This was in spite of keeping up a high average speed, the speedometer showing 87 on one occasion, probably about 80 mph actual.

On the whole trip, in the Killarney district. doing nearly 100 miles a day. I had no trouble, beyond blowing a hole in the silencer ; we never even had a puncture.

Coming back from Fishguard, we had the advantage of an early start, getting off the boat at 7.15 am, and I deeided to push straight through in the day, a distance of 313 miles. This we covered in a time of 10 hours 20 min, including all stops. I consider this good for such an old car at the end of a long and arduous tour. My wife has a disability, and cannot drive, so I drove entirely myself, and we neither of us felt particularly tired on reaching home.

Surely the old Lancia, which just comes into the vintage class, must have been at the top of its type, just as the previous Lambda was, and the present-day Aprilia. I have owned about a dozen vintage cars, but never one as comfortable or making less fuss.

In conclusion may I say how much I look forward to your paper each month ? My only grouse is that it is not a weekly issue!

I am, Yours, etc.,

GCW Wilson, Maidstone.