U.S. Gallons — Uncle Tom

Sir,
I very much enjoyed the article on the Volkswagen in the January issue of Motor Sport, but I feel sure that you slipped up on the question of “U.S. gallons.” Tom McCahill wrote that the car averaged close to 50 miles per gallon and in brackets following this statement you noted “U.S. gallons.” I do not know if I am correct in assuming that, you meant to imply that the U.S. gallon is larger than the Imperial gallon but that is the impression that I got, because earlier in your section of the article you had found a figure of 35 miles per gallon.

The U.S. gallon is of course smaller than the Imperial gallon, the figures being: U.S. standard gallon, 231 Cu. in. (3.7853 litres); Imperial gallon 277.42 cu. in. (4.546 litres).

Might I mention that Tom McCahill, besides having a most attractive writing style, also has a vivid television personality.

There is a 15-min, television programme here called ” The Motor Sport Program” in which latest motor sport news from America and Europe is given and there is a discussion period. McCahill moderated one of these discussions between a Detroit designer and a sports-car fan one night and a very stimulating job he made of it.
I am, Yours, etc.,
John Griffin,
New York.

[There seems to be something amiss, because our experience is that the Volkswagen does about 35 m.p.g. and if Tom McCahill was concerned with gallons smaller than ours he was getting a quite exceptional fuel consumption. — Ed.]