The article in the Chicago Tribune was about the "Dean's List" put out
annually by Dean Kruse of the Kruse Auction of his projection of the top 10
collectible cars that are likely to appreciate substantially in the coming
year. Jim Mateja, the virulently anti-British auto writer at the Trib, wrote
the article. The Kruse list published simply listed the 1980 MGB with no
mention of the LE. The photo printed with the article was of an LE and in the
body of the article, Mateja incorrectly says all 1980 MGBs were LEs. Not
unusual for Mr. Mateja to mangle the facts but his attitude on cats would fit
in here on the list. The MGB was the least expensive car on the list. Kruse
predicts a 15% rise in price of the 1980 MGB but there is no clarification as
to whether that prediction is based on any specific market forces, references
from Kruse' auctions or that he's aware of the MG List E-Bay Cartel's work.
;-)
This was not the only mangling of facts last week in the Trib in regard to
British cars. There was a mostly decent article on the history of the Mini
and the prospects of the new generation Mini coming to the US last Wednesday.
There were errors in saying Alec Issigonis worked for Morris Minor - he of
course worked for Morris and designed the Morris Minor model, and it also
attributes powers of clairvoyance to Issigonis when it says he designed the
Mini in anticipation of the Suez Crisis of 1959. A mistatement as the Suez
Crisis actually occurred in 1956.
Kim Tonry
Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
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