Truly a Triumph

Sir,

A recent operation has forced me to part with my much loved, but heavy clutch and steering, 2.5 PI Triumph and your remarks on the test of the 2500S, i.e. “replacement of the never really trouble-free petrol injection” make me dispute this trouble with Triumph/ Lucas injection. I have been a Triumph adherent since Vanguard days—’64-’70, two excellent 2000s and since ’70 two Pls. The first I kept for 10 months only—a real Friday model in every way except injection but so lively I had to have another. This one proved a wonderful car—so reliable I kept it far longer than usual—i.e. 67,000 miles. During this time it had the usual minor replacements but no stops on the road in 4 1/2 years and four long Continental holidays—in one of which I did 100 miles distance in less than the hour on the Munich/Frankfurt Autobahn-4 up and luggage.

Last year, at 48,000 miles in Perigeux, France, it failed to start for the first and only time. A clout on the high pressure pump with a shoe and we were away. I always carried a ‘spare (it fits readily alongside the original) and the local BL agent changed it within the half-hour for 20 francs. Incidentally, in his garage was a perfect British Racing Green LHD MG-TF with Italian registration. He said nothing would make the owner part with it!

I am glad to see you are now a little more pro-Triumph. In your Rover 2000 days I often took issue with you on the two makes— especially engine-wise. It all depended on what you wanted. The 4-cylinder Rover always reminded me of my wartime bombing days in Pegasus-engined Wimpey ICs during Alamein time and, later, instructing in Hercules-engined Mk. X. Rough as a bear’s but so reliable and tough.

The 2000/2.5 engine, however, reminded me of the injection Packard Merlins in the Canadian-built Mosquito 25s I flew later in Donald Bennett’s Pathfinder/Light Night Striking Force—a beautiful, reliable engine (and airframe) in Europe but quite a dicey plane when we ferried Mk. 6s out in Burma after VE day.

Incidentally, Bennett used to whisper in on his squadrons in every sort of foul weather in a Beaufighter (Hercules engines)—undoubtedly to save Mossies for ops. What a pilot (and navigator) he was and what a pity he never really found his niche later, either in cars or politics. He was the “tops” in Pathfinder Force in all ways.

My, how I have blathered on. Congrats on your Jubilee. Please don’t retire just yet (or D.S.J.). There are so many like me with such a love/hate regard for you both and your excellent magazine.

JOHN L. WHITWORTH, DFC

(Now with PAS Auto Stag but no connections)