That Diesel 2-Litre Lagonda Conversion

Sir,

Your article in the January issue of your journal was most interesting and I was pleased to see the reference to the two enthusiasts at the Military College of Science, as I was one of them. But the credit for this achievement belongs to my friend and colleague R. F. Pattenden; I only assisted with the machining involved in the conversion, particularly on the cylinder head, and with the trials after the conversion had been done. These trials were mostly made on the road between Shoreham and Eynesford, in Kent, where we were living at that time. The engine used direct injection and it took some time to get the combustion right so that the road between the two villages Was often rather blue. However, eventually a clear exhaust was obtained. Starting was never a problem although no external heating was used. The car ran about as smoothly on diesel fuel as it had on petrol at speeds over 40 m.p.h. but at low speeds was rather rough. The pervasive smell of diesel fuel was always present.

Incidentally the initial step in this project was the purchase of two Lagonda cars both of which were in quite good running order, for the total amount of £30.

Fifield W. Steeds