The British Industry

(Correspondence under this heading has been a feature of MOTOR SPORT in recent months. It has, we believe, caused a deeper stir than is apparent from the apathy of P.R.O.s to reply to criticisms of their products ! Believing that the time has come to close this disturbing correspondence, task accomplished, we do so as we began, with a letter from Mr. George H. Poske, of Peru, adding for flavour a few further letters, including some in praise of British cars. – ED)

Sir,

Many people are complaining of the performance of modern British cars, at home and abroad, and I am sure that they are justified in doing so, but I would like to put on record the excellent service that my father and lately myself are having from a 1947 Riley 1 1/2-litre saloon.

First of all, the car gets very hard wear being used for business during the week and left in the open all day, and at weekends my father and I obtain great pleasure in using the first-class performance of the car to the best advantage. The road that we live in consists of a chassis-twisting set of pot holes, outstanding drains, etc., as it has not been surfaced at all.

A thirty-miles-per-gallon petrol consumption is obtained regularly from the car and it starts readily, needs no choke (the mixture is not too rich) and has a 2,000-m.p.g. oil consumption.

There are 53,000 miles on the clock and it has not had a rebore and does not need one. Play at the steering wheel is only 1/4 in. and the following are the only troubles that have occurred: one big-end started to go, play developed in the i.f.s. linkage and a front damper became rather inefficient.

The original black cellulose is in good condition, as is the body condition generally. One body defect was a split in the fabric head covering seam, easily rectified with some rubber adhesive.

Finally, I agree with Mr. Poske, that the brakes on the pre-mid-1952 Rileys are not up to much, and that the car would be much better with a lighter steel body.

I am, Yours, etc.,

B. H. CACKETT.

Bristol.