Old faithful neglected

Sir,

After reading the letter from Paul Hull in the September issue of MOTOR SPORT I too was saddened at the state of the BRM P578 ‘Old Faithful’ albeit for a different reason.

I worked for The Patrick Collection museum in Birmingham at the time the BRMs were auctioned originally and we bought the car and displayed it in a Graham Hill commemorative corner within the confines of the exhibition area.

When we owned the car it was perfect, as were all the cars in the Collection, and I was present when the car was brought back to Birmingham on a low loader covered in just tarpaulin! I can still recall the day the BRM was fired up for the first time. The noise and the smell was something that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stick up.

Sadly the BRM was sold along with many other exhibits when costs and the apathy of the British public led to the closure of the collection. I agree that to leave P578 to rot is a tragic waste, so why doesn’t Tom Wheatcroft buy the car and use it alongside his V16? When he next uses the V16 and it breaks down he could always tow it with P578.

I am, yours, etc. Ian Gills, Shirley, Solihull