The Leyland Eight

Sir,

Re-reading your fascinating article “The Last Leyland Eight” (July 1977), reminds me that this car ran in the Manchester to Blackpool Veteran and Vintage Car Run in (I think) 1965. I also once encountered it one week-day in Chapel-en-le-Frith some years ago a most unexpected and stirring sight!

You may be interested to know that a Leyland Eight engine and also a stripped Arab engine were on view at the Museum of Motive Power, Dock Road, Lytham, Lancs., when I was last there in August, 1973. I would think that they were loaned by Leyland Motors who had several other exhibits there. May I be allowed to comment on three matters in your January 1978 issue:

(a) The Renault referred to in the letter from Mr. Jampole is not, surely, a 45 more likely a 25.

(b) King Alexander of Yugoslavia was assassinated in Marseilles (not Paris) and the car was a Delage. This occurred about Motor Show time, 1934, when I was on my first visit to London. Although only nine years old at the time, I remember quite clearly being shocked by this unfortunate event.

(c) In reply to Mr. R. M. Stenning, the Rover Speed 14 tourer was not catalogued in 1936.

Stockport DAVID L. GANDHI