BASF Rallye Tank Info

[Cornpanzer]

Was researching my BASF tank today and found this interesting article.
http://www.europeanplasticsnews.com/...&id=1229342321

[Cornpanzer]

Copied for reference:
HDPE Automotive Fuel Tank (1967)
European Plastics News staff
Posted 15 December 2008 11:58 am GMT
Today we think nothing of driving a car with a plastic fuel tank, but when German engineers started work at the beginning of the 1960s to substitute metal with HDPE in this most demanding application it was a bold step indeed.

It was the pioneering work of Volker Lohrbächer and Hans Bührle in the BASF blow moulding technical laboratory in Ludwigshafen that turned the concept to reality. Together they developed the machinery and tooling to handle the difficult to extrude high molecular weight HDPE required.

It was the weight saving that gave the plastics fuel tank its big break in 1966, when Porsche fitted them to their rally cars. In 1967 the company followed that rally success by fitting a plastics tank to the road-going version of its 911 car – the first, albeit limited, series production application.

VW came next, seeing plastics as a solution to the corrosion problems that plagued steel fuel tanks. It piloted 500 tanks with the German Post Office in 1972 before going into volume production in 1974 on the VW Passat. By 1980, every VW fuel tank was produced in HDPE.

Early fuel tanks simply replicated metal alternatives, but designers soon saw the opportunity to better use space under the car. And plastic fuel tanks continue to develop, with Inergy’s TSBM tank for the BMW 7 Series winning the US SPE Grand Award for innovation this year.

PICTURE: Much of the pioneering work in blow moulded fuel tanks was carried out by Volker Lohrbächer (left) and Hans Bührle in the BASF technical laboratory in Ludwigshafen, Germany

[Cornpanzer]

There was a factory bulletin on Ernie W's site that I can no longer find. If anyone has this, I would love to see it again.

[Cornpanzer]

Thanks Raj!

[Mr9146]

I wonder how the plastic tanks are going to stand up to the Ethanol in today's fuel. Many motorcycle manufacturers are being forced to warranty fuel tanks due to expansion caused by the Ethanol. I would hate to see our government ruining our irreplacable vintage parts...