DEFENDING THE OLD CARS

DEFENDING THE OLD CARS • • •

Sir,

I read with great interest “The Daily Mail Dislikes Old Cars” (” Matters of Moment,” April edition).

Most (or could I say all ?) intelligent people would like to see fewer road accidents, but why blame old cars ? Look at the photographs, for instance, of fatal road accidents published recently in daily newspapers, and I think I am correct in saying that they were all modern cars. Why should the old cars be blamed for baulking the driver of a fast modern car. causing him to pass in ridiculous places and have an accident ? Surely the driver of the fast modern car is to blame, for

being so stupid and impatient ? Believe me, I. like many others, have met them, especially returning from the coast after a day’s outing. Perhaps you are cruising along in a stream of traffic around the 35/40-m.p.h. mark, when some delightful chappie (in a brand new sports car or high-powered saloon) belts up alongside, and cuts right in front of you because. something is coming in the opposite direction towards him. I suppose if there was an accident it would not be his fault, because he has a new car. Bosh !

In my opinion it is not the age of a vehiele, but the way it has been looked after [and driven.—En.). I have examined vehicles at different dealers, and find that there are plenty of cars well under ten years old that are in a worse condition than many of the ” old rattle-traps masquerading as motor ears.”

Perhaps you will think. “He doesn’t use the roads, only at weekends,” but believe me, I know what I am saying, being one of those horrible bus drivers who noses his way into a stream of traffic, causing lots of naughty swear words—but that’s another story.

Now don’t get the idea that I don’t like mcidern cars, far from it. I would certainly like to own a small one, but financially it is impossible. My old rattle-trap is a 1939 Morris Twelve Series III, which is sound throughout, except for using oil and low oil pressure (I’m having to save up to have it bored and the bearings retnetalled), but I can assure the Daily Mail that should anything crop up to make the vehicle unsafe, I would, without hesitation, take it off the road until it was put right.

As you mention in one of your paragraphs that it is highly probable that the Editor of the Daily Mail drives, or is driven, in a rattle-free car, but if this should happen to be incorrect, I would gracefully exchange his for mine (although 21 years old, it doesn’t rattle; I don’t allow it to).

Good luck to you, and thanks for sticking up for the poorer drivers who like to take their families out once in a while but can’t afford a late-model car. I am, Yours, etc.,

Northfleet. R. E. SAVAGE. • • *