Practically Classics Forum

Open the front cover and you will see that Neil Campbell has got his hands on Vicki Butler-Henderson's "Fur"

Lucky lucky B'stard!

Reading the Triumph sixes article I see that yet again the dangerous swing-axle myth is being perpetuated...... please please actually drive one of the cars with the alleged death-trap axle! You'll see that you don't actually need a run off area on every bend!

Yes, it does have the potential to spit you into the ditch but only really if you suddenly take your foot off the gas at full throttle in a tight bend, but this could only happen on the road if you're doing something really really stupid, and you'd probably be in the ditch whatever you're driving! I've never had a single scare from my swing axle, and I don't dawdle.

mr rusty wrote:Reading the Triumph sixes article I see that yet again the dangerous swing-axle myth is being perpetuated...... please please actually drive one of the cars with the alleged death-trap axle! You'll see that you don't actually need a run off area on every bend!

Yes, it does have the potential to spit you into the ditch but only really if you suddenly take your foot off the gas at full throttle in a tight bend, but this could only happen on the road if you're doing something really really stupid, and you'd probably be in the ditch whatever you're driving! I've never had a single scare from my swing axle, and I don't dawdle.

I could not agree more. I have not driven a Triumph six but had a Herald estate which was driven rapidly with no heart stopping moments. A friend with an early Vitesse also liked its sure footed handling. Having also owned several Skoda Rapids and Estelles, I actually preferred the handling of the swing axled variants over that of the semi-trailing arm later/higher spec versions, although all of my rear engined Skodas were a delight to drive rapidly. Like you said, you really have to be a poor driver to force most swing axled cars to misbehave......though a Renault Dauphine with large wheels and relatively short half-shafts and the occasional older Beetle have got their knickers in a twist whilst I have been following

Agree. Just poor Daily-Mail style journalism IMHO.