Uphill struggles with a gas-powered Austin

SIR – During the petrol rationing caused by the Suez Crisis, my father converted the family Austin A30 to gas, with a bag on top (Letters, January 17).

This enabled me to continue to see my girlfriend 25 miles away. The car managed well on the level, and would reach 45mph going downhill; but with a compression ratio of close to nothing, on hills I was overtaken by milk floats.

Undeterred, I persevered with the journey, and my girlfriend became my wife. We celebrated our diamond wedding anniversary last year. Michael Hollands

Wolverhampton SIR – In 1978 I became the owner of a dilapidated Morris Traveller, Rosie.

One day I noticed the son of our landlord walking round the car. Next time he brought a magnifying glass and camera, so I asked him what was so interesting. It transpired that he was a university mycology professor, and Rosie was home to moulds and fungi on her woodwork that he hadn’t seen before. He wanted to take samples.

Rosie became the subject of university lectures, and ended her days housing chickens.

Chris Hardy

Lytham St Annes, Lancashire