GR translation: My old short was a gasgobbler all right

[Mike Jing]

P241.24-27  “Well, I’m an Esso man myself,” Slothrop thinks he ought to
mention. “My old short was a gasgobbler all right, but a gourmet. Any time
it used that Shell I had to drop a whole bottle of that Bromo in the tank
just to settle that poor fucking Terraplane’s plumbing down.”

Here Slothrop is referring to his car as "my old short".  Is there any
special meaning of the word "short" I am not aware here?
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