The good oil: Fog lights are a nuisance

Much reader interest about last week's Volkswagen Beetle history. To continue: The German carmaker owes its post-war existence largely to one man, British Army officer Major Ivan Hirst (1916-2000). In April 1945, the heavily bombed VW factory was captured by American forces and handed over to its British ally to administer. Hirst was put in charge. He first planned to salvage much of the plant and its equipment for war reparations and use a skeleton workshop to maintain occupying forces' vehicles. But Hirst then hit upon the idea of building Beetles to bolster the British Army's light transport fleet. He painted a Beetle British military green and demonstrated it to the high command. In September 1945, the British Army ordered 20,000 examples. The first few hundred cars were used to get the German Post Office up and running again. By early 1946 the Wolfsburg factory was producing 1000 cars a month. It was still in disrepair: the war-damaged roof and windows meant rain stopped production. Editor's note: There are still holes in the original factory roof, a reminder of the World War II years. The museum in the factory grounds is a tourist attraction: among the many VW variants on show is the original"Herbie" Beetle from the 1969 movie The Love Bug.

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Australian auction house Shannons describes the 1952 FX Holden ute it is selling tomorrow as one of its most authentic offerings in many years. The 57-year-old carry-all goes under the hammer in Sydney, where it is expected to fetch around $30,000. The glacier green FX comes laden with period accessories, including rear mudguard spats, hood ornament, windscreen sun visor and door lock plates. It is also being sold with original Holden workshop and owner's manuals. Further reinforcing its fair-dinkum appeal: the engine number matches the door pillar tag.

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GM Holden is battling to avoid posting a fifth consecutive year of losses in the face of reduced revenue from sliding Australian sales and an 85 per cent drop in exports. The company also faces substantial ongoing engineering and development costs for its forthcoming small car, which won't go on sale until late next year. GM Holden chairman and managing director Mark Reuss announced a A$87 million loss for the 2008 financial year.

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Fog lights are driving reader Joe crazy. He writes: "Poorly aimed fog lights are more dazzling than dipped headlights. The number of drivers I encounter every day who use their vehicle's fog lights when there is no fog makes me wonder how many readers are aware that this practice is illegal, day or night. The offence, "inappropriate use of fog lamp", incurs an infringement fee of $150. Front fog lights are usually the lowest lights on the vehicle and, therefore, the last to become visible to oncoming drivers. Also, in clear conditions, properly aimed fog lights won't help you see any better than dipped headlights."

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Graham agrees: "My current pet beef is with drivers who have their front fog lights on all the time - and especially those who also have the rear ones on. According to my daughter, who has just completed the first written stage of her voyage to get a licence, drivers are only meant to have fog lights on in very low visibility."

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From the Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus file: Police in Fayetteville, North Carolina, are seeking a pregnant woman who walked into a bank with a handgun and demanded cash. As the teller was handing over the money, the woman received a call on her cellphone. The teller told police the conversation became so intense that the woman ignored the money and walked out of the bank empty-handed - still talking.