MTFCA Forum

I'm currently working on a speedster build and am curious if anyone here knows what these types of fuel tanks are called? I do not take credit for these photos.

Thanks in advance!

I'd call it a "suitcase tank".

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 27, 2025 9:09 am

I'd call it a "suitcase tank".

It definitely has that look! I appreciate your response. I seem to recall seeing a picture somewhere online of one of these tanks with the "Ford" logo stamped into it. Unsure what model Ford these types of tanks would be used in.

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 27, 2025 9:09 am

I'd call it a "suitcase tank".

Is this what this style of tank is ACTUALLY called?
Or is this just what you want to call it?

I tried searching for a "suitcase fuel tank" and couldn't come up with any fruitful results.

The search continues...

To repeat: "I'd call it.....".

In both pics, the bodies and tanks look identical, which suggests they were manufactured. If so, finding out who made them would probably be revealing. If both pics are the same car, or from the same custom builder, the tank may be a one-off. Both frames appear to be Model A Ford.

- Suitcase tank

- Dog house tank

- Lunch box tank

- Triangle tank

- Pyramid tank

- European racing tank

- British racing tank

No. 3 Racer tank, pre Caractacus Potts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL4Gf2ydq2U

I googled "Ford speedster gas tank" and found an image of a very similar gas tank that was made in Argentina. Perhaps you could find a fabricator of custom / replacement gas tanks that could fabricate a tank to your specifications. The hot rod community might help you locate such a fabricator.

This tank does appear to be a very efficient design for your application.

WayneJ wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 28, 2025 11:20 am

I googled "Ford speedster gas tank" and found an image of a very similar gas tank that was made in Argentina. Perhaps you could find a fabricator of custom / replacement gas tanks that could fabricate a tank to your specifications. The hot rod community might help you locate such a fabricator.

This tank does appear to be a very efficient design for your application.

I tried googling just that and even including 'Argentina' and couldn't come up with anything like you describe. Would you want to post an image of what you're coming up with?

Erik Johnson wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 28, 2025 11:09 am

- Suitcase tank

- Dog house tank

- Lunch box tank

- Triangle tank

- Pyramid tank

- European racing tank

- British racing tank

No. 3 Racer tank, pre Caractacus Potts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL4Gf2ydq2U

No. 3 Racer ie. "Chitty" has been on of the inspirations for my T speedster! I'm just having a hell of a time pinning down what these dang fuel tanks are called.

Most speedster tanks I'm finding are oval or cylindrical.

Google: "Ford model a speedster gas tank argentina". Then look for a facebook post.

WayneJ wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 28, 2025 3:19 pm

Google: "Ford model a speedster gas tank argentina". Then look for a facebook post.

Got it, thank you. I don't have Facebook so I tend to ignore most links taking me to it.

Its seeming like I might be better off going with a typical T tank or if I'm feeling super motivated I could fabricate a tank to be exactly what I'm looking for.

Thank you!

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 28, 2025 8:38 am

To repeat: "I'd call it.....".

In both pics, the bodies and tanks look identical, which suggests they were manufactured. If so, finding out who made them would probably be revealing. If both pics are the same car, or from the same custom builder, the tank may be a one-off. Both frames appear to be Model A Ford.

I doubt that they are the same car, as one appears to be right hand drive and the other left hand drive.

Keep crankin',
Eric

How about modifying a MG-TD tank, or similar?

Not really blastfamy if you modify it. Repops are out there.

I use to build any style the customer wanted but due to no one wanting to pay a craftsman a decent price, many sheetmetal guys have quit or died off. It must use baffles (2), a seam 2/3 from the bottom, and a flexible mounting strap system to accommodate the frame movement of the T. Good luck in finding someone.

Henry,
Your knowledge, and willingness to share is what makes this forum great.
I do not possess your skill level, but I’m not afraid of trying to fabricate parts that I can, when needed.
I will file away the info on tank building for future use


Scott

Henry K. Lee wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 29, 2025 6:10 am

I use to build any style the customer wanted but due to no one wanting to pay a craftsman a decent price, many sheetmetal guys have quit or died off. It must use baffles (2), a seam 2/3 from the bottom, and a flexible mounting strap system to accommodate the frame movement of the T. Good luck in finding someone.

I appreciate your insight. It all comes down to how badly I want this style of fuel tank and how much money or my own time I'm willing to throw at it to achieve it. All part of what makes these projects special!

Hi Matthew,
Have you considered building a metal box in the shape you desire & putting a tank inside of it like a 10 gal. aluminum sand rail tank or a
rectangular hot rod tank? That would be less chance of leaking & safer to assemble. And may be less cost?
Craig.

Fordson tank looks stunning and it's all Ford then

Fordson tank looks stunning and it's all Ford then

Despite his less than optimistic view of the world, Hank provides good design advice. If you hire help, tell em it’s a water tank. Certain words like car, road, fuel, and gas will cause most shops to refuse the project due to liability concerns. I would only add that the end caps should not be held on with solder alone (or solder at all). Crimp and rivet your seams prior to soldering to prevent solder fatigue and leaks. I prefer to welded tanks

Those are the bodies built in Argentina. Everything was hand crafted. There is a nice article about them in Secrets of Speed Magazine.
I think it was Rio Tercero.

Craig Leach wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 29, 2025 1:07 pm

Hi Matthew,
Have you considered building a metal box in the shape you desire & putting a tank inside of it like a 10 gal. aluminum sand rail tank or a
rectangular hot rod tank? That would be less chance of leaking & safer to assemble. And may be less cost?
Craig.

Craig,

Thanks for this idea! Sometimes the simple solutions can be the best. My metal working skills are OKAY, and certainly not suitable for building a liquid-tight container such as this. I may have to use this idea.

Kevin, You nailed it! Say it is for water! The joints are "Pittsburg" style which hold firm and are either soldered or epoxied. Modern solder is trash and finding good acid is even worst. Still debated whether to offer to build this as the metal forming skills are disappearing quickly.

Where the hell is Lewistown?

WayneJ wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 28, 2025 3:19 pm

Google: "Ford model a speedster gas tank argentina". Then look for a facebook post.

I figured they were some sort of modern re-creation, manufactured in small numbers for a specific niche market. I can only recall a very few era photos showing such a shape gasoline tank. I suspected they were not made in the USA because most of the modern era cars using them seemed to be in England or Europe based upon the many times I have seen such tanks on videos of English and European events.


Thank you for that information!