what the Telegraph said about our cars

[davidmiles]

This article appeared in Saturdays (19/06/10) Daily Telegraph, rather heart warming, I felt...mind you a little condescending, we're not all bumbling Margaret Rutherfords

[davidmiles]

scanned, hopefully readable without the magnifying glass, or maybe not..

[LouiseM]

Hi David,

The Daily Telegraph holds the copyright to the article so it can't be scanned, reproduced etc without their permission. Under the circumstances I've removed your scanned pics but here's a link to it:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/cla ... Minor.html

Much more readable

[Blaketon]

I think they've quoted the 0 - 50 of an early one and the maximum speed on a later one . Suffice to say mine does better on both counts, though as to maximun speed, I have never achieved it. Whether I should be proud or ashamed depends on your point of view but I think it would need a speedo from a Mini Cooper if it were not to go off the end. Oddly enough, I have a Ford 5 speed box, 155 tyres and a 4.55 CWP and although the speedo hasn't been recalibrated, the speedo seems spot on. I know my miles per 1000rpm and it matches the rev counter .

Its a funny thing but the Minor does seem to be something of an institution. Some of the more yobbish elements will see them as the favoured transport of "Roy Cropper" and laugh at anyone who drives one. The one problem is that whilst people will often talk to me about the car when I'm parked, out on the road they assume I am going to be in their way (You can see this in the Daily Telegraph article). Granted even my 1275 Minor is not madly quick but its more than capable of holding 70 mph on a motorway and on one local mountain road, I have seen off a 3 Series Brattmobile...(No doubt the driver's ability was not in proportion to his ego, which I am sure I dented ) the Minor handles a lot better than people realise!!!! In saying that I think a lot of people assume anything old is slow and (Perhaps based on how they look after their own car) clapped out. My MG V8 is no slouch (Again I've not driven it at its maximum speed, though my father has pulled around 5000rpm in top - 27 mph per 1000) and it is a very strong performer on hills but you still get prats in Fiestas and the like who underestimate it .

[davidmiles]

Thanks Louise, that link is as you say, far easier to read, and erm, legal.

[Roni]

Drive an old Minor and they think: "what a characterful old car. I bet I'd like the owner."
Good comment, I wonder if it would make a good bumper sticker?
Here in NZ you get the same reaction to the Minor on the road - "old car, must pass!" It matters not what speed you are doing. I generally travel at the speed limit so there is no legal reason for anyone to need to pass. It doesn't happen the same when I am in my Subaru at the same speeds.
More annoying, to say the least, is the "old car, must be going slow, must pull out in front of it to not get held up!" This is the primary reason I have upgraded brakes.

[Blaketon]

More annoying, to say the least, is the "old car, must be going slow, must pull out in front of it to not get held up!" This is the primary reason I have upgraded brakes.

Oh yes or if you catch up with them, they speed up (They will even do that if I'm in the MG V8). It's a bit like that when I'm out cycling. People assume, because they are unfit, that no bike does more than 10mph. I have overtaken numerous cars whilst cycling. For one thing, why should I upset my rhythm, when it's safe to pass or brake heavilly because some half wit can't judge speed. Apart from that, when a bike overtakes them, hopefully the penny will drop. I have often said that driving a classic car and cycling have much in common.