Ideal pairs

Sir,

The Alvis article and the “Ideal Pair” photos in your February issue conspire to make me send you a photo of my ideal pair. They are a 1954 MG TF which I purchased new and an Alvis Speed 25 Saloon which was acquired about a year ago. They might be described as an American Anglophile’s Pair.

The Speed 25, previously owned by H. E. Bennett of Middlesex, is original throughout. The TF is unmodified except for its Stage II engine. Both cars are quite comfortable on the California Freeways where fierce acceleration is unnecessary. I would judge that passing (overtaking) performance is more important on English roads than here.

The MG is used for daily transportation and and has about 110,000 miles on the odometer. It has been used for hill-climbing, autocross and touring. It’s been driven across the US three times and is a pleasure except when the top and side curtains are inadequate to filter out rain and snow.

The Alvis has accumulated 106,000 miles and is used primarily for touring with my wife and children. It cruises quite comfortably at 70 m.p.h. and offers great fun in passing Lincolns and Cadillacs. It shows its best attributes on well-paved winding secondary roads where the taut suspension and quick accurate steering are most evident.

Using the “ideal pair” budget of £10,000 I would totally restore each upping the compression ratio of the Alvis and adding a blower to the MG. Or maybe I’d rather trade the MG on a Speed 25 or 4.3-litre Tourer. Motor Sport is a fine periodical. I enjoy it for the cars but equally as well for its display of the English attitudes and character.

Robert C. Schindler – Fair Oaks, California.

[See also pages 490, 491—Ed.]