Gas cap in the trunk?
06/04/2022
When we were out and about in an Innocenti C this week, we naturally noticed the fuel filler cap under the trunk lid. By placing the tank opening under the cover above the storage space, which was necessary anyway, the car manufacturers were not only able to save costs, they also ensured that no unauthorized person could gain access to the tank contents, as the trunk could (usually) be locked. In addition, no additional flaps spoiled the body line and the requirement for short distances was also well fulfilled with the tank opening located close to the tank.
The small Innocenti sports car was by no means exotic with this solution, as this solution was also chosen for the VW Beetle until an external tank access solution was introduced in the summer of 1967. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing is a good example of the fact that even expensive and luxurious cars were equipped with a tank access under the trunk lid.
Of course, the idea of placing the tank opening close to the load also had disadvantages. If you weren't careful when filling the tank, more than one drop could spill over and possibly damage a suitcase or even the clothes inside. In addition, there was always the risk that the tank nozzle was not completely odor-proof.
However, this did not stop TVR from relying on this solution in the 1990s, for example in the Griffith and again. However, TVR was probably one of the very few manufacturers to stick with this particular variant of the fuel filler neck ...
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