Mercedes and MG Matters

Sir,

I was most interested in the further details on Mercedes in the letter from Mr. Walsh.

Mr. Walsh is, of course, quite correct in pointing out my error—Earl Howe had already bought the ex-Caracciola car immediately after the 1929 TT so that the Mercedes that Caracciola drove at Shelsley Walsh in 1930 was a different car. I missed that meeting and until I read Mr. Walsh’s letter I always believed that Caracciola drove an SS model at Shelsley. Now Mr. Walsh infers that it was an SSK, perhaps either W.11. or Mr. Walsh will confirm this. If, in fact, it was the short chassis SSK then that makes Earl Howe’s performance with the long Chassis SS even more meritorious.

I am afraid I am no researcher and only have a fairly good memory, but memory plays tricks. I remember how pleased we all were when the “old man” did that time of 46.2 seconds because he had previously equalled Caracciola’s record of 46.8 seconds three years earlier. Let us hope that we see some of these fabulous 38-250s in competition again soon.

Now some more notes on one of the two MG photographs you published from our Stratford Motor Museum archives. With regard to the Brooklands picture, I seem to remember that car as an experimental model at about the time of the Mark III Tigress. I think the chassis was rebuilt for my old friend Donald Monro and then fitted with a special two-seater body by Car Bodies Limited. The car Was a mixture of Mark I and Mark II with a short chassis 9 ft. 6 in. Mark I frame, four speed Mark II gearbox, Mark II brake drums with special rod and cable operation (seen clearly in the illustration) and an outside exhaust. I remember that car very well when owned and driven by Donald Monro.

Kineton A. F. Rtypts FLETCHER

[Wilson McComb tells us that the person in the passenger’s seat is the late Cecil Cousins and the begoggled figure beside the car is Callingham, who was co-driver to Parker (probably the person behind the wheel) on the only race in which an MG Tigress took part, the 1930 JCC “Double-Twelve”—Ed.

Sir,

The 1935 Type 500 Mercedes-Benz pictured in your March issue (p.256) and referred to as BYN 612 is more likely to he BYW 612, the Windover Cabriolet offered for sale on p. 214 of your May 1951 edition. At that time, it was described “—as new. Engine and all parts perfect. Recently overhauled by makers.”

By 1957, apart from the “run big ends” you mention, it also appeared to have sprouted a variety of tasteless accessories, including overriderswhich were, no doubt, essential for a little light shunting off Piccadilly.

Rugby JOHN R. DAVY