NKA9

Sir,
I have read the article In Resurgam by DSJ in the February issue of Motor Sport with interest. A few extra details on the history of the car will not come amiss. The car did not disappear during the 1950s, deteriorate and quietly rot away. In 1959 or 1960 I acquired the car in first class condition, and for the next few years used it in competitions including sprints and circuit racing. At the same time I also owned a competition 328 and a Formula Two AFM.

From the photographs acompanying the article, I feel TT Workshops most be congratulated on the fine job of rebuilding. Whilst I appreciate the decision was not theirs, I feel that to have destroyed the Supermotor — as the car was known during the Gillie Tyree era and which was to Northerners as famous as his LTC 9 — and to create in its place what amounts to a nondescript replica of one of the original works cars, has successfully removed an historic car which, in its own right, was well worthy of preservation. There are many 328s in existence but there was only one Gillie Tyree Supermotor.

In its place we are presented, not with a rebuilt standard 328, which it was originally and which I could understand and stomach, but a very fine motor car, which it obviously is, in a false guise, which makes me very sad. Truly the car has lost its identity.

Another little item: the motor fitted was a Cisitalia-modified Fiat 1100, not a 11/2-litre. As far as I know, Cisitalia never made equipment for anything larger than the 1100.

JC Brown, Fulwood, Preston