<VV> Electrical Reliability Question

[David B. Neale]

"It has been noted that Lucas components are possibly more prone to
electrical leakage than Bosch or generic Japanese electrics. Experts
point out that this is because Lucas is British and all things British
leak. British engines leak oil, shock absorbers, hydraulic forks and
disk brakes leak fluid, British tires leak air and the British defense
establishment leaks secrets...so, naturally, British electronics leak
smoke."



Well .... I hadn't realised that a Brit praising the Corvair for its 
reliability would induce a member to advise one and all that
all things British leak, not only in the automotive field but in the 
defence arena, too. Of course, they don't, and although we produced more 
than our fair share of questionable vehicle engineering, (mainly in the 
1960s and 1970s, when the Japanese came along and kicked us in the seat, 
following which almost the whole of our automotive industry either 
collapsed or was bought up by foreign companies), it would be unfair for 
Britain to claim the monopoly on poor engineering and a leaky defence 
establishment, despite Chris and Bill Strickland's hilarious 
revelations, for which I am extremely indebted.  Ford Pintos which 
explode when clouted up the rear; a certain small Chevrolet whose 
pistons made a most efficient job of reaming the cylinders somewhat 
oversize .... and Harold Nicholson, Noshir Gowadio, John  A. Walker and 
Aldrich Ames produce illuminating evidence of remarkable leaks in the 
CIA and US defence organizations.

Naturally, I appreciate that this was a good-humoured riposte, and in no 
way a rant at things British.  After all, we did give you the gas 
turbine engine, (without which you might all still be belting around the 
skies behind those excellent Wright Cyclones), and we do still hold the 
record for the world's fastest car, the Thrust SSC, which probably 
contains absolutely no Lucas components, but was the first to go through 
the sound barrier.

For the record, Lucas, in the 1970s,  also designed and built mechanical 
fuel injection systems which amused owners of Triumph 2500 cars by 
regularly bursting into flames when given their first start of the day.  
Lucas dire engineering and design wasn't restricted solely to electrical 
systems.

"Starter motors were frowned upon in British Automobiles for some time, 
largely
because they consume large quantities of smoke, requiring very large wires."


Oh .... and British cars got their first electrical starter motors in 1912.


Kind regards,

David