THE FORD RS2000

Last month’s road-impressions of this 2 litre o.h.c. sporting Escort did not include consumption data. The fuel consumption, including some cruising at 4,000r.p.m. on a Motorway, came out at an excellent 31.0m.p.g., which proves the merit of a big unstressed engine pulling high gear ratios. Oil thirst of the Pinto power unit was approx. 1,000 m.p.p.

Dinky Toys, made by Meccano Limited of Liverpool, feature new road vehicles at frequent intervals. The latest are a fire-appliance based on the Land Rover so equipped and a road-grader. The former is complete with removable ladder, opening doors and bonnet and representations of hose reel, spotlight and roof lamps, etc. It is No. 282, the scale is 1/42nd, making it 4 11/16ths long, and it sells in the UK for 99p, VAT included. The road-grader, Dinky No. 963, is 9 in. in length and costs £1.49. It does not follow any particular full-size grader.

Auto Replicas, 12 Chichester Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire have added a die-cast metal model of a bolster-tank short-wheelbase Brescia Bugatti to their series which already includes ERA, Maserati 8C and AC Cobra 289. The little Bugatti, just less than three inches long, is well detailed, with wire wheels, tied front dumb-irons, reversed 1/4-elliptic back springs, bucket seats, spare wheel, fuel filler and hand-pump, etc. but it requires painting and presumably has automatic transmission! Strip mudguards are available for it. The price is £2.25 inclusive of UK postage. We are informed that the next model from Barry Lester will be a Healey Silverstone. – W. B.