[backhoe]

“iirc they also had cars that ran on coal heated by a wood fire in the trunk and the coal offgas ran the engine... “

Producer gas! I have a reprint of a British book from WWII detailing the conversions- coal, wood, or coke was cooked, and the gas used as fuel for vehicles.

This guy:

http://www.lindsaybks.com/

Sometimes has reprints.

[Chode]

thx...