Sir,

Sir, Many .people appear to write in high praise of their vintage motor cars, of various makes, but 1 have not so far seen anything in praise of what I consider to be the best. of the lower powered ones.,

refer to the 1930 Mk. 4 Riley Nine tourer. With its 9-h.p. engine, in the unhatched form, it developed 27 b.h.p., and whilst nothing-startling in the way of mints inni in speed is achieved, some astonishing mileages can he 1)1 lt into the day. Mine was puriThased twit years ago, and has been used .ontinuously for work and pleasure. In t 930 if. 100k two of us to Northern Italy, co timing over the gentler parts of the French Alps, wit Ii no meehanical bother at all, find very few spares aboard. Being tired with ambition after this, I liree weeks of last July were spent touring Austria. 1)11ring this tour the

Riley was taken the hard way, climbing the Gross Glockner with far less trouble than many of the modern cars, and when parked at the top was the object of much interest. One Continental gentleman, after an examination of the engine and chassis, informed Ti ” zat soy made zee motor car in zose days,” with which I heartily agreed. The return was made through the southern Swiss route, climbing the Oberalp and Furka passes withoutany difficulty. Except for restarting from rest on these hills, bottom gear was never used, and the average petrol consumption was 34 m.p.g. The car is in daily use, and takes me over much of England on duty, and used to be the object of much scorn amongst the unenlightened, but it is now treated

with h the respect that is the due of such a gallant old lady.

Thank you, Victor Riley. I am, )(OUTS, ete.,

S/Ldr. TONY EvnisiitTr, R.A.F.

London.