‘Celebrity Etiquette’ and the Mystery Man in the Big Rolls-Royce

Rip Rense may have bumped elbows with Michael Jackson, John Forsythe, Mick Jagger and Mr. Ed’s owner (boy, what a name dropper), but he never had a near traffic accident with Ricardo Montalban who, he reported, cut in front of him and was driving a Rolls-Royce.

First of all, my father has never owned nor driven a Rolls in his life. He refuses to drive such a pretentious automobile. Instead, he’s been loyal to Chrysler for some 20 years and currently drives a New Yorker sedan--a far cry from a $200,000 English luxury car.

Also, Ricardo Montalban is a very courteous considerate driver. I’ve been with him when he’s gone out of his way to be polite on the road.

VICTOR MONTALBAN

North Hollywood

Rip Rense replies: My memory for faces is better than my memory for cars. It could indeed have been a posh Chrysler that Montalban was driving. Either that, or a Rolls with a very convincing Montalban impersonator at the wheel.