Bert has been in the paint shop all week having a little cosmetic touch up and a new windscreen. As a result I’ve been having much fun driving Betsy. Betsy is my husband’s ‘other love’. She is a 1971 Buick Centurion Convertible, with a 7.5 litre V8 engine.

There are things associated with Betsy which I do not like; being stopped in traffic with the top down and those around me assuming this in an invitation for conversation for one; and the question “How much do you get to the gallon for that then?” for another. I am always reminded of a dear friend of mine who would retort “you don’t own a thing like this and worry about gas mileage”.

Although to be fair, when fully warmed up enough waste heat comes off the engine to heat up the front wings to egg frying temperature. It is a scary thought but generally speaking petrol combustion engines are only about 20% efficient. That means 80% of the fuel burnt goes up the exhaust pipe in wasted heat and energy rather than to power the engine.

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