Joint failure on a Morris Mini

Sir,
I noted with interest the letter in your May issue about universal joint failure on a Morris Mini—and your own remarks on the rarity of this occurrence.

My mother-in-law purchased a new Morris 1100 from Morris Garages in Oxford in December, 1964. She has used it so little since that last month (April, 1966) it had only just covered 9,000 miles. The car was. carefully driven, regularly serviced (by Morris Garages) and always garaged. At the time of the recent scandal a loud knocking noise developed on full lock. This proved to be what my mother-in-law termed “the fashionable disease” and the universal joint was replaced at a cost of £25.

Repeated invoices for this sum have been received despite several polite letters pointing out that the part (in view of the mileage and standard of maintenance of the vehicle) must have been seriously defective and should therefore be replaced under warranty.

I must most heartily concur with your correspondent that the matter is by no means resolved: Also the attitude of B.M.C. is open to question and could be unfavourably contrasted with that of Ford, Rover or Triumph under similar but less drastic circumstances.

London, W.C.1. Martin R. Pawley.