Durability of British Cars

[Simon.MATTHEWS@st.com]

     What most people tend to forget is that the worst shortages of food 
     and materials were immediately after WW2, not during. This might 
     explain the poor materials used.
     
     However, for a comparison, this week I had the shock absorbers 
     replaced on my '89 V*lv* and the rear shocks (made in France) were 
     almost non-existant -- what must be an outer protective casing had 
     rusted away almost completely!
     
     Regards,
            Simon