25-07-2018, 04:28 PM
I am reminded of a warm sunny day in May 1967 when I spotted a box saloon (no-one called them RP, RN etc at that time) in a car park whilst I was visiting Faringdon, Oxfordshire. I took the opportunity to have a good look at the Austin's rear numberplate/lighting assembly to compare with that of my own fairly recently acquired 1932 Tourer (rear tank) which had been modified with the addition of a crude flat steel bumper.
I don't remember how it happened, maybe I attempted to clear excessive accumulation of dirt from around the rear underfloor of the Box in order to see how the steel straps and tank were fitted, but without warning the whole petrol tank and numberplate assembly fell to the tarmac with a metallic thud, leaving it held to the car by only the bent petrol pipe. I have to admit that I didn't wait for the owner to return, or to leave a note, or even to grab the opportunity to examine the method of fixture which was then plain to see!
I don't suppose the owner will read this, but if he/she does then I'll happily buy him/her a pint. Or two.
Obviously it wasn't so much me but 34 years of rust to blame (that's my excuse anyway). No doubt the owner wouldn't have made it out of the car park without realising that the petrol tank was amiss. And maybe I did the driver a favour? The tank was about to drop off anyway and the consequence of this happening on a busy road with with resulting sparks and petrol spillage, and maybe whilst being closely followed by a young family in a Mini could have been a huge disaster.
I don't remember how it happened, maybe I attempted to clear excessive accumulation of dirt from around the rear underfloor of the Box in order to see how the steel straps and tank were fitted, but without warning the whole petrol tank and numberplate assembly fell to the tarmac with a metallic thud, leaving it held to the car by only the bent petrol pipe. I have to admit that I didn't wait for the owner to return, or to leave a note, or even to grab the opportunity to examine the method of fixture which was then plain to see!
I don't suppose the owner will read this, but if he/she does then I'll happily buy him/her a pint. Or two.
Obviously it wasn't so much me but 34 years of rust to blame (that's my excuse anyway). No doubt the owner wouldn't have made it out of the car park without realising that the petrol tank was amiss. And maybe I did the driver a favour? The tank was about to drop off anyway and the consequence of this happening on a busy road with with resulting sparks and petrol spillage, and maybe whilst being closely followed by a young family in a Mini could have been a huge disaster.