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Mystery Tank
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 5:44 pm
by 59Elva
Does anyone recognize the source of this fuel tank? It’s presumably from some ‘50s British car. It was last home in my 1959 Elva Courier. Elva founder Frank Nichols probably would have sourced something cheap and available. Size is approximately 29-1/2” x 19”x 7” deep. It had some pinholes on the bottom that I fiberglassed over decades ago.
Thanks,
Bill B
Re: Mystery Tank
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 6:19 pm
by Bill_qaz
Can you clean up and get full, number off the smiths tank sender unit, it maybe possible to trace vehicle it was used in.
Re: Mystery Tank
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 6:26 pm
by svenedin
Bill_qaz wrote: ↑Tue Sep 01, 2026 6:19 pm
Can you clean up and get full, number off the smiths tank sender unit, it maybe possible to trace vehicle it was used in.
Yes it's definitely a Smiths sender. 5300/54 is listed as MG Magnette ZB but maybe not limited to just that car.
Stephen
Re: Mystery Tank
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 6:48 pm
by Bill_qaz
The number or letters in front of 5400 are unreadable in the picture.
Re: Mystery Tank
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 7:02 pm
by 59Elva
Does this help? Cover reads “12V FT5300/45”
Body “ Patent Number 447499”
You guys totally amaze me with your encyclopaedic knowledge. Are there links I should be looking at before pestering you on the forum? Im aware of the MG Guru site but never would have thought of trying to match the sender unit.
Im sorry to say the British car fraternity in my area seems to have faded away or Ive lost contact if it does exist. Rainy weather today and the rest of the week so no work on the pickup.
Thanks so much.
Bill B
Re: Mystery Tank
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 7:27 pm
by svenedin
Ah 45 sorry
5300/45 Morris Oxford
- Screenshot 2026-09-01 at 19.25.37.png (73.99 KiB) Viewed 338 times
Re: Mystery Tank
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 7:36 pm
by Bill_qaz
svenedin wrote: ↑Tue Sep 01, 2026 7:27 pm
Ah 45 sorry
5300/45 Morris Oxford
Screenshot 2026-09-01 at 19.25.37.png
Don't think its an oxford tank as the one posted has a top fill not side fill
Re: Mystery Tank
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 7:46 pm
by Bill_qaz
Bill have you contacted Hemmings.com
According to the internet.
The original metal fuel tanks for the early 1959 Elva Courier (Mk1) were not sourced or repurposed from a mass-production donor car; instead, they were custom-fabricated by Hastings Motor Sheet Metal Works.
https://www.hastingsmotorsheetmetalwork ... a/elva.htm
Re: Mystery Tank
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 7:57 pm
by 59Elva
I thought it might be a Austin/Nash Metropolitan but they have a top sender. Elva borrowed the motor mounts from the Met. I think some of the BMC 1500 B series motors might have been similarly sourced. The side mounted sender seems unusual. I suspect the odds of finding an exact replacement is slim to none especially on this side of the pond but it would be nice to know where to look. Many of the Couriers are vintage racing cars now with fuel cells. My fiberglass patch was mostly working when I took the car apart. Suppose it could be reglassed.
Again, many thanks.
Bill,
I have not tried Hemmings. Interestingly I live maybe 30 miles from their Bennington Vermont headquarters. I had attended some of their summer cruise ins with the previous truck. They had a great publication “Sports and Exotic Cars” that I subscribed to until it folded. Hemmings is naturally biased towards domestic cars. If the Elva tank can’t be repaired or replaced Im sure some sort of custom tank could be made.
Re: Mystery Tank
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 8:00 pm
by Bill_qaz
59Elva wrote: ↑Tue Sep 01, 2026 7:57 pm
I thought it might be a Austin/Nash Metropolitan but they have a top sender. Elva borrowed the motor mounts from the Met. I think some of the BMC 1500 B series motors might have been similarly sourced. The side mounted sender seems unusual. I suspect the odds of finding an exact replacement is slim to none especially on this side of the pond but it would be nice to know where to look. Many of the Couriers are vintage racing cars now with fuel cells. My fiberglass patch was mostly working when I took the car apart. Suppose it could be reglassed.
Again, many thanks.
Bill,
I have not tried Hemmings. Interestingly I live maybe 30 miles from their Bennington Vermont headquarters. I had attended some of their summer cruise ins with the previous truck. They had a great publication “Sports and Exotic Cars” that I subscribed to until it folded. Hemmings is naturally biased towards domestic cars. If the Elva tank can’t be repaired or replaced Im sure some sort of custom tank could be made.
See my edited post
Re: Mystery Tank
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 8:59 pm
by 59Elva
Bill,
Sorry I didn’t see your complete post before I started typing. I have seen the custom fitted aluminum tanks for the Elva sports racers. It’s comforting to hear the company that built the alloy bodies is still around and if current that the Elva filling station still exists?
My steel tank looks mass produced. The cost of stamping dies for limited production or hand forming steel would seem cost prohibitive. Father Frank was known to be frugal.
The Courier was assembled with a lot of borrowed parts. The body, frame, interior, and suspension arms were made in house. The 1500 engines came from a number of sources including MGA, gold seal rebuilds, Wolsey, and maybe Morris. The Minor contributed the steering rack and steering column support. The rear axle also looks like a Minor although some say Riley 1.5. Front axles TR10 with Morris hubs and modified Riley brakes. I didn’t see where in the article that Courier tanks were bespoke. The Courier prototype was done in aluminum by Williams & Pritchard.
Re: Mystery Tank
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2026 12:54 am
by Bill_qaz
59Elva wrote: ↑Tue Sep 01, 2026 8:59 pm
Bill,
Sorry I didn’t see your complete post before I started typing. I have seen the custom fitted aluminum tanks for the Elva sports racers. It’s comforting to hear the company that built the alloy bodies is still around and if current that the Elva filling station still exists?
My steel tank looks mass produced. The cost of stamping dies for limited production or hand forming steel would seem cost prohibitive. Father Frank was known to be frugal.
The Courier was assembled with a lot of borrowed parts. The body, frame, interior, and suspension arms were made in house. The 1500 engines came from a number of sources including MGA, gold seal rebuilds, Wolsey, and maybe Morris. The Minor contributed the steering rack and steering column support. The rear axle also looks like a Minor although some say Riley 1.5. Front axles TR10 with Morris hubs and modified Riley brakes. I didn’t see where in the article that Courier tanks were bespoke. The Courier prototype was done in aluminum by Williams & Pritchard.
Perhaps I misinterpreted but it states.
"Hastings Motor Sheet Metal Works also made the petrol tanks and oil tanks"