LJK Setright

[Markus Berzborn]

Well, fuel is more expensive in Germany than it is in the UK.

I just found the discussion a bit strange, given the subject of this forum.
In the sense that people who are seriously concerned about fuel consumption would probably never even consider large capacity petrol engines as offered by Bristol.

Kind regards,
Markus

[Nick Challacombe]

I find the fact that my 47 year old Bristol 407 still gets better fuel
consumption 19mpg than
my friends Range Rover.
Nothing seems to have progressed in V8s for 47 years.
My diesel 270 Eclass though is very good, 42mpg or more on long runs.
Fantastic I think, though I still love my Bristol, just wafts along at
60/70mph with the same comfort as my Merc,
but no P/S,ABS,Aircon,decent ventilation and a little wind noise.

Nick

[Ashley James]

I have to say that for me the most remarkable classic of all time is a good MKVI Bentley. They are absolutely silent at between 70-80, they are amongst the most comfortable cars of all time, the ride can be caught out, but is as good as today's best most of the time, the steering is light and very precise and they do 19 mpg at 75mph. I've owned over fifty cars including E Types, DB5s and just about anything else you can think of, but nothing quite matches R-R's best effort after the Ghost IMO. At 55 it does 22mpg.

My 400 is a little faster, a lot noisier and rather crude by comparison, though it does handle very well for such an old car. I had to fit a Brake Servo, an MGB clutch, a modern pre-engaged starter, an anti-roll
bar, substantially re-jet the carburettors and ladle in several tons of insulation material to get noise levels low enough to stave of the divorce for a bit longer too.

As I've said before LJKS was a very good, non technical writer who wasn't terribly concerned with the accuracy of his work. I have his "History of the World's Motorcycles" and a another book of re-gurgitated old wives tales about prominent Classics, I used to read his efforts in car magazine, I didn't care for his bias in Hi Fi World and I always used to blow mu stack at the mistakes.

[RGSchmitt]

A few years ago I had a Lincoln Town car as a rental (large) that
gave 27 mpg in moderate driving. EPA ratings for the similar Ford
Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis are 15 city and 23 highway
(mpg).. Pretty good for a 4061 lb car.

[Sam410]

Originally Posted by RGSchmitt

A few years ago I had a Lincoln Town car as a rental (large) that
gave 27 mpg in moderate driving. EPA ratings for the similar Ford
Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis are 15 city and 23 highway
(mpg).. Pretty good for a 4061 lb car.

I had a fairly new (about 4000 miles on the clock) rental Town Car earlier this year and the trip computer said 24mpg (US gallons of course) when I collected it, and I'd managed to get it down to 19mpg 2500 miles later when I returned it. I had of course been driving it at European speeds, shall we say! It is, I think, a 4.6 V8, that struggled to haul its 4061 lb up freeway inclines, and handled like a boat. Corners on freeways were alarming if you were going too fast (over 80mph or so) as the weight shifted and the air suspension lurched. I loved it as a honeymoon car, but wouldn't want one of my own.

[Markus Berzborn]

By the way, are we talking about US or UK gallons?

Regards,
Markus

[Rubbond]

I find it a little worrying that people are able to remember the fuel
consumption of rental cars, and then several years ago.
Last week I rented a Peugeot 107 (at least that was what I was told it was)
on Malta. Small island, so small car.
Having spent 2 days folding down the front seats up and down to get things
into it (it had no boot to speak of), I only realised when filling up with
petrol just before turning it in, that it actually had four doors (!), the
rear doors closing right up against the rear windscreen
Thankfully they do full service at Maltese filling stations, or likely I
would never have found the filler cap, even in daylight.
Another car I won't be buying.
It had 5 gears but I didn't get out of 3rd.
Oh and the fuel consumption - no idea.

[Blenheim Boy]

Originally Posted by Ashley James

I have to say that for me the most remarkable classic of all time is a good MKVI Bentley. They are absolutely silent at between 70-80, they are amongst the most comfortable cars of all time, the ride can be caught out, but is as good as today's best most of the time, the steering is light and very precise and they do 19 mpg at 75mph. I've owned over fifty cars including E Types, DB5s and just about anything else you can think of, but nothing quite matches R-R's best effort after the Ghost IMO. At 55 it does 22mpg.

My 400 is a little faster, a lot noisier and rather crude by comparison, though it does handle very well for such an old car. I had to fit a Brake Servo, an MGB clutch, a modern pre-engaged starter, an anti-roll
bar, substantially re-jet the carburettors and ladle in several tons of insulation material to get noise levels low enough to stave of the divorce for a bit longer too.

As I've said before LJKS was a very good, non technical writer who wasn't terribly concerned with the accuracy of his work. I have his "History of the World's Motorcycles" and a another book of re-gurgitated old wives tales about prominent Classics, I used to read his efforts in car magazine, I didn't care for his bias in Hi Fi World and I always used to blow mu stack at the mistakes.

Can you name some of these inaccuracies? I am quite new to Setright, so I am curious to find out more about the man and his work. I found his book Drive On! to be utterly fascinating.

[Ashley James]

I'm afraid I can't name his inaccuracies though I've been reading them on and off since the sixties, I was so cross about something he said of the BMW R100RS that I phoned him and told him so. He just never took the trouble to get things right and often regurgitated old wives tales that just weren't correct. Adam Kimberley, who was a friend towards the end agreed, though he greatly admired the LJKS writing style.

[lansdownplace]

There is a mlVI Bentley in the street about a half a mile from me
which is completely silent as it hasn't moved for at least six
months. It has a black paint job done with a house brush and some
dulux. I have to say it looks like a hearse.

Paul

[Ashley James]

Originally Posted by lansdownplace

There is a mlVI Bentley in the street about a half a mile from me
which is completely silent as it hasn't moved for at least six
months. It has a black paint job done with a house brush and some
dulux. I have to say it looks like a hearse.

Paul

Most of the earlier cars were black with brown interiors because owners were anxious not to appear to have profited from the War. Nevertheless there are few if any classic cars of any age that ride and drive so well. They were and still are an astonishingly good car and I love their looks and always have. Quintessential British Forties styling and the last time R-R designed a car for Brit tastes.

The owner of a local factory bought one in the Forties and kept it till he died in the early seventies, I remember being stunned by it as a child and seeing around locally for years, eventually it became an ambition to own one. I've had mine since '98 and driven backwards and forwards to France in it numerous times including doing a Louis Vuitton in Paris and also all over the UK. It is so comfortable, quiet and smooth that all it lacks is air conditioning. Now I run a website providing technical support and I've made contact with other owners the world over. Most experts agree that it is the second and last time R-R made the best car in the world. So I'm sorry you don't like it, but hope that I've persuaded you to feel more kindly towards it from now on. After all, Bristols are not to everyone's taste.

Ash

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Ashley James

I'm afraid I can't name his inaccuracies

He just never took the trouble to get things right and often regurgitated old wives tales that just weren't correct.

I won't dispute the fact that Setright made some mistakes but he also went to the trouble to correct some of them, such as those in Bristol Cars and Engines which he owned up to in A Private Car. In reality most authors make the occasional mistake, particularly when dealing with historical information.

Frankly, if you are going to slag off a widely published an author who is deceased and cannot defend himself, the very least you can do is list the myriad inaccuracies that you claim he churned out!

Other than History of the World's Motorcycles, which particular other Setright books do you think are full of mistakes?

Kevin

PS. Who is Adam Kimberley and why should we care if he agrees with you?

[Markus Berzborn]

Of course the Bentley Mark VI is a very nice car.
I just don't get the point why it should be the last acceptable Bentley and why the succeeding line (S1-S3) should be any worse.

Regards,
Markus