I like weird cars, and there are none weirder than microcars…unofficially defined as small cars with engines less than 700cc (43 cu in), although many were 250cc or less. To put this all in perspective, the original VW Beetle (Type 1), a car which was small by American standards, came with engines from 1100 (25hp) to 1600cc (60hp), much too big to be considered a microcar.
I visited the amazing Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum in Madison, Georgia and seeing so many of these glorious oddballs in one place was a real treat! Unfortunately the museum was closed and the collection liquidated in February 2013. However, the museum’s website remains online http://microcarmuseum.com/. I’ve also had the pleasure of being a passenger in a Citroën 2CV, BMW Isetta, Velorex Oskar, Bond Bug, and a Messerschmitt KR175. Most feel like enclosed scooters. The Bond was much quicker, like an enclosed motorcycle and the Messerschmitt never shook its aviation roots. That felt like an aeroplane.
Needless to say, there is very little microcar/woodgas crossover. They already use so little fuel, the savings wouldn’t justify the effort. But as I was reading about the Peugeot VLV (short for “Voiture Legere de Ville”, or “Light City Car”) 377 were built in 1941 and/or '42 (sources differ on the year), from a Christmas present, “The big book of tiny cars” by Russell Hayes (ISBN: 978-0760370629) a brief mention of woodgas was made:
With fuel shortages ongoing and civilians banned from using petrol, many European motorists turned to alternative fuels during the Second World War. Many resorted to pedal-powered Velocars, but others stuck wood and coal burners onto their prewar cars to produce fuel gas.
Ironically, woodgas is also mentioned on the auction listing for the VLV once owned by the The Bruce Weiner Museum 1942 Peugeot VLV | The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum | RM Sotheby's