La Perles

Sir,

Regarding your article “So What Was It?” in Motor Sport June 1985, it was a La Perle which won the GP des Voiturettes at Boulogne in 1921/22, took second place in the Circuit des Routes Payees near Lille in 1922 and was a regular competitor in French Speed events. A La Perle, driven by Revaux, was entered at Le Mans in 1921.

The 1921 Boulogne car had a 4-cylinder sv; 1,394 cc Bignan engine; bore and stroke dimensions of 61 mm x 119 mm; Zenith carburetter; developing 27 bhp at 3,000 rpm. Maximum speed was around 75 mph. Lefevre’s 1922 car used the same chassis, and was powered by a 4-cylinder pushrod ohv engine of 1,436 cc (63 mm x 119 mm; Solex carburetter; developing 33 bhp at 3,800 rpm), maximum speed around 75/80 mph. The chassis was retained for 1924, when a 6-cylinder ohc 1,492 cc engine was introduced (60 mm x 88 mm; two Solex carburetters; developing 62 bhp at 4,200 rpm), maximum speed 95/100 mph.

The model raced successfully as late as 1927, and by 1930 had been further modified, the lowered chassis sporting a Comte supercharger. This car was second in the 11/2-litre class in the GP de L’ACF at Pau in 1930.

London, W1 RUPERT PRIOR