* * * THE BEST FROM BRITAIN?

Sir,

During the last two years I have been the proud owner Of the only 11.13..G. in Brazil—the 14-litre Aerodynamic model— and the way in which this car has Stood up to the bad roads in this country is a tribute to what must be the finest sports car built in Britain today. Being the only car in Brazil Of this make one is cut off from all sources of spare parts and, very important too, advice from other H.R.G. owners. However, being an H.R.G., it has never once broken down, and the only spare part purchased during two years has been a carburetter float, which was taken from a Riley. Both the speedometer and rev.-counter cables broke at 25,000 miles, but that does not count as a breakdown, and a rear spring Shackle required welding after a particularly bad stretch of road.

The bodywork is perfect. I had fears that the Aerodynamic coachwork would soon shake to bits on the cobbled roads, mud roads and pot-holed asphalt roads, but all is well and ‘still as tight. as when new. The unclershield is a different story —being battered and bent by several glides on top of cart ruts and encounters with boulders that look like bits of earth. This tough undershield has saved the car from serious damage on more than one occasion ; without it I was sure to have lost chunks of sump and back-axle a long time ago. The H.R.G. is in daily use in the city of sae Paulo, where traffic jams are traffic jams. The car behaves well under these conditions ; the oil temperature keeps below the normal 80 deg. C., but on very hot days the water reaches 90 to 95 deg. C. The original Champion LS10 and Lodge H.N.P. plugs do not foul up under these severe conditions. If anything, the Lodge plugs give better results than the Champion, though both Sets are now getting a bit old. One original Dunlop 4.75 by 17 has survived for 30,000 miles ; the other four tyres on the car now are locally manufactured ” Brazil ” tyres, which are very good indeed. The hood of the car is very worn now ; wear must have been speeded up by the torrential rains and very stnmg sun, but the hood has always been a sore point on the car. When folded it rattles terribly, and there seems no way of stopping the row, and when erected it looks quite untidy and spoils what is a really attractive car. But it must be said

that the arrangement does keep out the lashing rain.

There are very few ” real ” cars to delight the eye in this city. The vintage cult is quite unknown in this country, which makes one’s mouth water all the more when reading “Vintage Veerings ” and the Editor’s frequent “Busman’s Holiday” in cars which must be a delight to sample. Before signing off I wish to congratulate you on the general excellence of your paper, which every month brings me write-ups of all the events where H.R.G. reigns supreme.

I am, Yours, etc.

Silo Paulo. IAN ORR NEIL. * * *