Leyland Eights

Sir,

Your article re the last Leyland Eight (July) was of interest. Since the illustrations shown are of a Leyland-Thomas car it bears (not surprisingly) but faint resemblance to the “Production” model as a RR competitor. I was associated with Vanden Plas in the days when they were custom coach builders and well remember the Leylands. In addition to your count of 18 there must have been two more one a saloon the interior garnished with fittings in solid silver the other a touring model. One of these was ordered by the Nawab of Bogra the other by the Maharajah of Baratapur. One wonders whether these now moulder quietly away in the corner of an elephant house!

You mention that they were fitted with torsion bar springing but on the “production” models, for the rear, it was a combination of quarter elliptic leaf spring anchored at the front to the torsion bar end. The steering column, I recall, became a vertical shaft immediately ahead of the dash down to the drop-arm box. The engine auxiliaries dynamo, starter, ignition etc. were contained within compartments cast on the crankcase and closed by detachable covers. The general proportions of the car and its classical radiator combined to give a very handsome appearance to the whole. I enclose a photo of the tourer the original being the only pictorial record I have left of these cars.

Cold Ash H. J. HALL-WILTON