Readers' opinions

“Spares for every single part?”

Sir,

The latest line in VW propaganda facing page 528 of the July issue of Motor Sport made me smile.

We were in the unfortunate position of having the fuel pump of our 1961 Karmann-Ghia pack up at 8 p.m. in Exeter, on 29th May 1963, en route for Bristol, and we were forced to remain overnight.

The next day it came as a shock to find that the local VW agent in Exeter could not provide a replacement. This, however, was obtainable—in Torquay! We were thus subjected to further inconvenience and delay.

We feel that the inability of the only VW agent in a major British city to provide such a vital part makes mock of the advertisement and that you, as the alleged “VW Benefit” publication, might like to know this!

T.C. Carey (Mrs.)
S. Harrow.

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Blowing their own trumpets
Sir,

I dashed to my newsagent to collect my July issue; turned frantically (as usual) to “Letters from Readers,” always my first call! I was astonished to find two blatant adverts from “Firestone” amongst the genuine letters. Please Sir, do not let our favourite columns be fornicated like the “personal” columns of a national daily.

C. Wild.
Rhyl.

[The two letters we published here occasioned many readers’ letters like the above. We thought it funny to let you see how Firestone’s Publicity Department was making much of every driver at Indianapolis having bought Firestone tyres, whereas the impression here might be that Firestone gave tyres free to Indianapolis entrants and got their monopoly that way.

The second letter from Firestone’s Mr. Winter was put in to show that Firestone tyres can also win races against other famous makes of racing tyres in saloon-car races in this country. Moreover, Mr. Winter included a pinch of technical data in his publicity blurb, which made a refreshing contrast to many letters of this kind that we receive.—ED.]

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Parking concessions
Sir,

You may be interested in the following notice which stands on the counter at Moss Bros., the well-known Covent Garden outfitters:—

“If your car is outside and not at a meter please inform our commissionaire.”

You can draw your own conclusions from this, but it would appear that there may be one parking law for the rich customers of Moss Bros. and another for the poor who shop elsewhere in the district!

Robin N. Thomas.
London, N.W.4