Cars in books, October 1964

Usually this feature is made up of extracts from old books, in which references to cars, preferably biographical but sometimes fictional, are come upon by chance. This month, however, I have to report several references to different makes of car in the novel “Passport to Oblivion” by James Lessor, in which the hero of this spy story, Dr. Love, owns a f.w.d. Cord roadster with Schwitzer-Cummins supercharger and is a member of the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club. This car does not figure in his breath-stilling adventures however. Nor is it a coincidence, for the author, too, has just such a car, ex Walt Disney and painstakingly restored, possibly the last in Britain! Lessor incorporates all the sex, sadism, and continual violence, and the occasional use of dubious words, that are apparently essential to the success of modern thrillers. Sherlock Holmes was a gentleman in comparison with Dr. Love! With the death of Ian Fleming, Leasor is all set for Love to out-live James Bond in fame and popularity. Incidentally, Love collects old car badges and picks up a copy of Motor Sport in the course of the extremely well-told story in ” Passport to Oblivion” (Heinemann, 18s.).