Cost Of Spares

Sir,
I venture to question Mr. B. W. Rivett’s conclusion that elderly, quality cars are not an economic proposition, compared presumably with the post-war car costing the same money. At any rate, this has not been my experience; over the last fifteen years I have owned three Bentleys, a Speed Six, an 8-litre, and now a 1934 3 1/2-litre. The latter cost me less than a recent mass-produced affair, bought secondhand, on which I had to spend over £100 in about 18 months. Many thousands of Bentley miles (30,000 in the Speed Six alone) haven’t cost me a fifth of that sum, and, of course, depreciation will be, and has been, infinitely less. I wonder if Mr. Rivett has ever worked out depreciation on the post-war stuff; if he hasn’t, I suggest he does, and I think he will be surprised and shocked.

Obviously, with the old, quality machines, one takes a chance of a major mechanical failure, to repair which may cost more than the car: but the superb workmanship and material put into these machines are a pretty good insurance against this happening, and the cars react well to careful maintenance.
I am, Yours, etc.,
H. B. Sayer
Plaxtol.