Dick,
About 20 years ago a friend of mine got rear-ended in his Series V Alpine. The
force of the collision caused the cross-over tube to seperate from the right
tank
right where rubber joint is. The entire contents of the tanks spilled at the
scene, into the trunk, the road what have you.
He wasn't hurt, and fortunately the gas didn't ignite. The car was repaired and
he enjoyed it for several more years before marriage forced the sale.
This was right before the whole Pinto fiasco story broke. So I have often
thought
of that day, and remind myself that our cars where built in the days before safe
locations for gas tanks, collapsible steering columns, etc. came into affect.
Something we should all keep clearly in mind.
SloMoIV@AOL.COM wrote:
> In a message dated 8/28/1999 9:21:40 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> rpalmer@ames.ucsd.edu writes:
>
> << Doug,
>
> Solid axle before I hit it, IRS after impact.
>
> Speaking of rear end impacts, yesterday in San Diego a poor sot driving an
> MGB made a bad move on the freeway and got rear-ended by a pickup truck.
> The MGB's gas tank ruptured on impact and the driver was immolated in the
> ensuing fire. How does the gas tank installation on an MGB compare with a
> Tiger or Sunbeam?
>
> Watching my rear in San Diego,
>
> Bob >>
>
> Dont' know about the MG layout, but . . . .
>
> Our Sunbeams (Tigers and Alpine III-V's) have twin saddle-type tanks in the
> wings, with a cross-tube just behind the lower rear valance. The tanks
> aren't partially exposed, like the side-tank GMC pickups that have had so
> many fires, but I'm sure they could be induced to rupture with a hard enough
> side impact. The cross-over tube is probably the worst risk, as it, or the
> hose connections, could be broken, or conceivable push the necks into the
> tank(s) in a rear-ender. The filler neck is mounted high and to the side,
> which might lessen some risks (vs. the early 70's Ford Pinto for instance) of
> the direct rear-ender induced fire. If I recall correctly, the MGB's filler
> neck is located just over the rear bumper.
>
> One of the reasons often cited to explain Chrysler's discontinuation of the
> Alpine were the then-imminent 1968 U.S. new-car safety standards, which some
> have said would not have allowed, among other things, the saddle-tank design,
> forcing a costly re-design. Bye-bye trunk space.
>
> An aside: There was a Primetime news segment on NBC a few months ago on the
> original Ford Mustangs, pointing out the numerous times that fire had injured
> or killed the occupants after collisions, partially because of poor fuel tank
> design and layout, but also because of the lack of a metal wall barrier
> between the trunk and passenger compartment. (It ended with Lee Iacocca
> telling viewers to get rid of their old Mustangs!)
>
> A number of Tiger and Alpine owners, so far mostly racers I suspect, have
> taken the time to fabricate a firewall behind the softtop well. Those in the
> process of restoration, who aren't concerned with getting 100 points at the
> next concours for originality, might want to consider installing one. If
> done right, they're unobtrusive, and offer the additional advantage of
> cutting down the decibel level in the passenger compartment.
>
> Dick Sanders
> Seattle
>
> P.S. It would be interesting to be able to gather some real statistics of
> how many Sunbeams have actually caught on fire as a direct result of
> collisions over the years. The reports that have turned up on this list in
> the past has been few, and often third-hand info.
>
>
|