Progress ?

Sir,

Like many more readers of your magazine, I shared your enthusiasm when the Mini-Minor was announced. Ten months ago I bought one. Since then it has consumed no oil, an unbelievably small amount of petrol, one petrol pump, one shockabsorber, two drive shafts, two tyres and one clutch. During this period the back brakes seized on, one back brake nearly came off the hub, and the radiator all but perforated itself against the wheel arch. The battery consumed 11/2 pints of water each week because of over-charging.

With great patience the local distributor repaired each fault as it arose, all at no cost to myself. However, a little arithmetic showed that if things continued to go wrong at the same rate during my second year’s ownership the cost to myself would be about £40.

With this thought as the final spur I have now reverted to good old-fashioned cart springs plus axle tramp, and have given up the worm’s-eye view for ever. This way I can be sure of getting there.

If you can bear with me for one more paragraph, I would like to reminisce for the sake of comparison. Three or four years ago I sold my 1938 Austin Big Seven. During the time I had it (from 80,000 miles to 120,000 miles) I had no breakdowns of any sort, used petrol at the rate of 1 gallon per 45 miles, and could manage speed averages of 40 if necessary.

Progress ?

I am, Yours, etc,

P Aspin. Whiston.