Crossbreeds

Sir,

True enthusiasts will share Marcus Chambers’s feelings in most of his remarks in the December issue.

He omitted the classic crossbred, a 41/2-litre Bentley engine in a “30/98” chassis. One can conceive, say, a distracted 41/2-litre owner installing an OE motor to keep up with the Vauxhalls, but . . . !

The Vauxhall-Villiers and a Type 54 Bugatti lead Marcus Chambers’s list of bastards, and I should like to set a few minds at rest as far as the unholy alliance of these two is concerned.

The choice was not mine, and the Type 54 chassis has now gone to a Bugatti enthusiast. I hope he finds the correct motive power.

As far as I know I have the only Villiers frame in the country, Raymond Mays’s white chassis having been scrapped, leaving David Brown’s with the special rear axle. Whether or not any more of this chassis can be used depends upon its suitability, but the front axle has certainly “had it” except as a souvenir.

In any rebuilding I may attempt, the Vauxhall character will be maintained as far as possible, and the Special side played down. There are plenty of 3-litre Vauxhall-Villiers engine spares and castings, but the chassis problem should provide plenty of scope for getting the bhp conveyed to the wheels and keeping them on the road at the same time.

Motor Sport is worth its weight in dollar bills out here. Keep it cracking !

I am, Yours, etc,

Tony Brooke,  By Air Mail, Manitoba.