Those were the days

Sir,

In these days of depressing conformity and anonymity in the area of sports racing car design, I no longer open motoring magazines with the anticipation of finding the kind of article which appeals to my taste in motor cars. Lo and behold what do I find when opening the October edition of Motor Sport, mouth-watering colour photographs and an article on that glorious beast the 450S Maserati.

Having been born just after the Second World War I was brought up on a motor racing diet of “D” types, Testa Rossas, DBRIs and of course the 450S. The formative years of one’s childhood have a lasting influence and one never again attains the sense of excitement and awe one experienced at the first sight of racing cars driven in anger. In view of the popularity of the JCB championship my views are obviously shared by a great many of today’s enthusiasts.

Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder, and I suppose there is someone who finds a Matra or a Cosworth powered Special aesthetically attractive. The article on the 450S has prompted me to write this letter in the hope that Motor Sport will see the need to continue the good work.

Ewell, Surrey R. D. Bradbury