We need to get up to speed on the chrome classics

THAT was a lopsided and poorly-researched feature article on classic cars in Ireland (‘Classic symptoms’, January 25). I’m afraid it’s this sort of misconceived sentiment and mythology that helps keep the use and appreciation of such cars fixed in the bargain-basement of our consciousness.

Let’s look at the introductory tag-line “unreliable gas-guzzlers”. Their reliability is largely to do with maintenance. With some of the more popular marques, such as MG, it is possible to obtain all parts as new and for a fraction of the cost of an equivalent part for the everyday family car.

Even with the more exotic cars, many parts are being remanufactured because of the popularity of the pastime.