Progress and profits

Sir,
It is interesting to recall that it was only in 1961 that you wrote of the Fiat-based Abarth “the quite remarkable Abarth Zagato 750 GT. . . . is capable of over 96 m.p.h. and acceleration from 0-60 m.p.h. is under 16 sec. and the standing-start 1/4-mile in just 20 sec. But speed has to be paid for and in England the little Abarth Zagato costs nearly £2,250.” Today an almost identical performance can be obtained from the 1,116-c.c. Fiat 128 saloon which, in spite of inflation, can be bought in 2-door form for around £900. Champion plugs, on the other hand, used to cost five bob and we were told to change them every 12,000 miles, now they cost 30p and last only 10,000!

D. W. Percy.
Exmouth.