FRESH AIR

FRESH AIR

Sir,

You are undoubtedly right when you say that there is nothing like an open sports car. But how many people can afford the, luxury of a car that will hold only one passenger and a very limited amount of luggage ? For my part there are several modern sports cars that I covet, but with a wife, two children and a well-developed bull terrier I can do nothing more than break the tenth Commandment, ownership id right out of the question.

When the time comes for our manufacturers to treat the home market seriously once again. I do feel that they will do well to consider the advantages of what used to be known as the Le Mans type of body. Here, in the back compartment there was room for a couple of adult passengers. They were not very comfortable admittedly, but in many ways that was a good thing : one did not want them as a permanent institution. The point is that they could be carried at a pinch. As for children and dogs, that rear compartment was sheer bliss. but most important of all was the fact that it. could accommodate an almost unlimited amount of luggage or junk which could be chucked in haphazard and stowed out of harm’s way under the tonneau cover.

Doubtless aerodynamic interests have been the major cause of the disappearance of this body, but I am quite convinced that if ever it can be re-introduced in modern wind-cheating form, there will be thousands of potential sports-Car owners waiting to welcome it. with open arms.

Incidentally, I am still hazy as to the meaning of this term ” sports-car.’` My own pre-war 41-litre Bentley was officially described as a sports car whether open or shut—” the silent sports car” in fact. Nowadays the Bentley agents will go out of their way to tell you that the new big-bore Mark VI. which is about 10 m.p.h. faster, is not a sports car. It all seems crazy to me.

I am, Yours, etc..

Lyndhurst. .ANtutuw LLOYD. [Openable fone!five seaters are, of course. listed amongst British manufacturers by AC.. Alvis, Dellow, Ferd, Lagonda, Morgan, Singer, Sunbeam-Talbot, etc., but these were beyond the scope of the article on sports eats in the July issue of MOTOR Sroar—En.] * S *