SIR,--I'm reluctant to contest Mr. Ross's comments on my article,
as he seems to be in broad support of my case. But I'm bound to point out that I didn't 'falsify' any national output figures. I didn't give any figures at all, but simply quoted the president of the SM MT. Iviy reference to AMerican penetra- tion of the British car industry was meant to high- light Britain's position in the world, not to elaborate comparisons with the Continent, where, as 'Mr. Ross rightly says, American investment is also sub- stantial.
As for the Hydrolastic springing, whatever BMC's motives in introducing it, it has certainly been put over to the public as a ride-improver, and that is how the public is entitled to judge it. Mr. Ross's argument of mechanical necessity does not stand up against the fact that Fiat and Renault have managed without such complications for umpteen years, and the point has not inhibited Hillman's new Imp.
Finally, I specifically used the phrase 'Which?'s hair-raising revelations,' which hardly sounds like an 'omission' to mention the poor durability of British cars. It is true that I didn't go on to say that this is worse than that of continental cars, but then I don't happen to think it is. Continental cars are just as full of manufacturing faults as ours, as reviews in the German DM Motor Car Tests demonstrate. And Americans, too, are always grumbling about the quality of theirs.
West Kensington, W14
HENRY AWBRY
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