Letters Celeb car dealer remembered, The Goodies’ Interceptor and POA frustrations
It was interesting to see the photo of Bill Fryer in the article about Bill Wyman’s Mercedes (Sedanic Majesties, July 2018). I used to do business with Bill and I remember the most prominent feature in his office was a picture of him handing over a new 1968 Morgan Plus 8 to Mick Jagger with a copy of Mick’s cheque beneath the photo.
By the time I got to know Bill he was into supplying adapted vehicles (DAFS!) for the Motability programme. Quite a contrast.
Weekend-job reminiscing
The Alfa Romeo 1750GTV dream drive (The List, August 2018) brought back memories of when I had a Saturday job washing and preparing cars at our local ‘honest John’ car sales emporium in Daventry.
On my first day I had two Range Rovers (two-door original) and a Rolls-royce Silver Shadow to prepare. They were just secondhand cars back then. However, in the showroom sat a gorgeous red Alfa 1750. Oh, what a thing of beauty when compared to Capris etc. Despite my pleas to my dad to swap the Maxi for it they fell on deaf ears. I did get a quick run in it though. Boy what a machine, and that alloy twin cam on song… Gordon Dow
1971 London Motor Show
I really enjoyed your Jensen SP life story (Life Cycle, August 2018) in Issue 541 – coincidentally a Jensen model number.
I often think about the 1971 London Motor Show, which I was lucky to be taken to by my Dad when I was 11. I think I’m right in saying that the SP show car was in a bright orange and that they differed visually by having the louvered bonnet and a black vinyl roof, SP badges and possibly minor changes to headlamps and grille. I remember years ago, seeing The
Goodies on TV turning up at a book signing or something in a gorgeous black Interceptor Convertible with a louvered bonnet. Graeme Garden was driving, Tim in passenger seat and Bill in the rear. Does anyone else remember this and if it was Graeme’s own car? Antony Barrett
No asking price?
I agree totally with the letter from Tony Woods (Dealer Versus Private Seller, September 2018). I’m currently in the market to add to my small classic car collection. Your magazine – and others – carry advertisements from classic car dealers that do not show the asking price.
As soon as I see that I just turn the page and move on. Surely they’re losing a lot of business? Like most enthusiasts I have a budget, and I want to see what I can afford and not waste time contacting the dealers to find out the asking prices. Martin Nickolls
Capri recognition
It’s nice to see the Ford Consul Capris receiving the praise they deserve (Chasing Cars, September 2018). Ford didn’t sell many because it didn’t want to – being hand-built made it expensive to make, the Mustang was coming and saloon racing was big there where the Cortina was a strong contender. Here in the US there was little or no advertising, or even road testing in the sports car mags.
Since the GT engine was the first production one tuned by Cosworth, that should have at least elicited some attention and these new engines were also the power unit of choice for many serious road racing cars from the Anglia 105E to the 120E 1.5-litre and later engines used in Formula II and III as well as the Elan and Europa. Not a bad heritage. Michael Rogers
A Maserati for me
A £1m+ Ferrari 250GT Lusso, a £650k Aston DB5 and a Maserati Sebring worth around £150k (Grand Trial, June 2018)... To me it’s simple maths – I’d go for the Maserati.
And if money were of lesser concern, I would still go for the Maserati. There must be very few more beautiful designs than this car. What lines! What looks! And its interior is sublime. Danny Bell