I would say some form of diesel car. A used Mercedes, VW or other diesel car will get 40's and 50's in mpg from regular driving, and have the torque to pull heavy things. If your looking for something specific, it will be much harder to find.
What is your term of Inexpensive? $500? $1000?
$6000? Once I know this, I can give you options on specific models. Diesel and gas don't have much of a price difference right now, and at one time dipped below the price of gas.
Diesel cars generally last longer due to the lower rpms they run at and diesel cars put out a much higher MPG rating than a gas engine. Unlike their Truck counterparts, the engines are much smaller, and therefore much much quieter, and aren't smokey. And, for the mechanically inclined, diesel cars can be converted to run from vegetable oil.
The first diesel engine was actually designed to run off peanut oil, but after it was realized diesel fuel was much cheaper than peanut oil, diesel fuel was used.
A dahtsun they run forever. Really cheap not to sure about gas mileage though.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.