Cars in Books, March 2003

Over the Christmas break i was reading The Eye of the Needle by Ken Follet, a fictional spy story, and to my surprise I found I had to read it in its entirety. I mention this because at one point the German spy, on whose work the outcome of WWII depends, steals a 1924 Bullnose Morris two-seater from a lady whose husband apparently bought it new (but it had a three-letter number plate; these were not issued until 1932!). The escaping masterspy drives it at 45 to 50 until it blows up, with what he thinks might be “a hole in a big-end”. He then thumbs a lift in “a large” Vauxhall Ten.

This is a book full of stabbings and shootings, and the usual very explicit sex, but the plot is enthralling. I expect the Bullnose Morris Club knows of it…