MORE PRAISE FOR THE FORD V8

July 7th 2014

Sir.

Further to Mr. Outen’s and Mr. Lindy’s letters concerning the merits. of the “good old Ford V8.” I would like to add my own experiences of this famous marque. At the end of 1958 I bought a nine-year-old Ford Pilot with 92,000 miles on the “clock.” She had had a reconditioned engine and steering box at 68,000 miles. She also boasted a radio and heater, and for £140 she was a good bargain. Apart from some

gearbox trouble dote to incorrect assembly at some time, and one or two minor ailments to begin with, SIM served me very well. She would ‘cruise indefinitely at 70 m.p.h. and returned an overall fuel consumption of just under 20 m.p.g. I had to sell her last autumn to pay for a 2.500-mile Continental holiday that we had just completed. The only trouble she had was a blocked main jet on tv.0 oecasions a result of running on foreign “

cooking” petrol. An .1tnerican gave me £170 for her.

I reverted to driving toy Chummy for four inonths and then, in December, I found the car that I had always wanted.

This edition of the 2:’3-seater V8 coupe is to my mind betterlooking than Mr. Oaten.. I would say that this is the best model that the Ford Motor Company has ever produced. My coupit has done a genuine 00,000 miles and has a better performance thatu the Pilot I had. Very few of them must have been made as I have only seen one other. This V8 returns over 20 ut,p.g. in the country dropping to 17/18 in the city rush-hour. Her only vices are a slightly skittish tail in wet weather and occasional rear-axle tramp on bumpy corners. The driving position is very good, there being plenty of room. The leg-room in the dickey is fantastic. When will Fords revert to the V8 engine, I wonder ?

Thank you for your excellent magazine. I am, Yours, etc.,

Stone-in-Oxney. C. L. WILIAAM9,0N. •