Thread: Oops, wrong fuel in cars

An interesting take on wartime rationing - not petrol in this case.

In about 1944, an uncle of mine was most embarrassed when his small daughter regaled a number of guests with the following tale "Daddy went to the bank and got some money, and then went to the "Reef Shop" (wreath shop, i.e. undertaker), and got a new tyre for the car!"

Funerals were regarded as an essential service, and hence could get ration coupons for tyres much more readily that could a private car owner. Petrol was not the only thing rationed.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

An interesting take on wartime rationing - not petrol in this case.

In about 1944, an uncle of mine was most embarrassed when his small daughter regaled a number of guests with the following tale "Daddy went to the bank and got some money, and then went to the "Reef Shop" (wreath shop, i.e. undertaker), and got a new tyre for the car!"

Funerals were regarded as an essential service, and hence could get ration coupons for tyres much more readily that could a private car owner. Petrol was not the only thing rationed.

Maybe he replaced the tyre with a floral wreath.
My father used to tell of how he had to replace the inner tube, on his bicycle, during the war, with grass. Apparently it didn't last long but was more forgiving if running over nails.

there were many farmers in Oakey area had fordson tractors.

often enough an aeroplane at 1 Aviation Regiment at Oakey had to be defuelled. Once defuelled the Avtur couldnt be used again. so, the farmers or fordson owners would solve the disposal problem, plus in the cooler months everyone in the surrounding districts used hero heaters.

I dont know what affect the fs2 had on anyones health. It certainly affected ones sexlife cause you'd be banished from the bedroom if you'd been working in the fuel tanks.

Hi,
One RAAF chap ran his motor bike almost exclusively on the fuel collected in a coke bottle used for checking for any water in the DC3 wing tanks. (Late 1960s)
Cheers

Was about 20 years ago a friend had just picked up a new Porsche from the dealer. As usual it had a teaspoon of petrol in the tank so stopped at the first petrol station he saw to fill it up. Drove out of the petrol station and car soon came to a stop. Dealer recovered car and determined had put diesel in it and being operator error were not going to cover under warranty. Found fuel receipt which showed had paid for petrol. Went to service station who had a pad with a list of names and car rego numbers all miss fueled. Seems tanker had put diesel in petrol tank. Porsche insisted that the petrol station pay for a new engine as they said the miss fuel had damaged it beyond repair

Originally Posted by austastar

Hi,
One RAAF chap ran his motor bike almost exclusively on the fuel collected in a coke bottle used for checking for any water in the DC3 wing tanks. (Late 1960s)
Cheers

Not just one, the Caribou used 100 octane lightly leaded. Very popular after unleaded was mandated.