Well, back again to continue the saga. As I have been writing these notes I realise that my time line is all mixed up so the story is not necessarily sequential but just as I remember it. Those who know me will appreciate my problem!
There is one little story that I am forced to tell against myself. Since the original 904 was a Targa Florio and Le Mans car, I decided early on that it had to have a proper fuel tank that would give a reasonable range on the road, would fill the space under the bonnet and look something like the original. It would be good if it could be fabricated in aluminium. The tank would sit on the top chassis members and would have a sump which would give a reserve and prevent surge.
My pal, Alex Brown then became involved. Alex is the owner of the Fairley Mercury - a 1953 Shelsley special, single seater with a Mercury V8 flathead which has been breathed on somewhat and is approaching ERA times at Shelsley Walsh. It is beast and takes some driving to such an extent that after one particularly hairy run which finished with the Fairley squirming its way up the finishing straight, a marshall in the top paddock suggested to Alex that you didn't see many of a certain type driving that sort of car.
Alex, ever helpful, suggested a chap on the West Coast who might be able to do it.This chap shall remain anonymous for reasons that will soon become clear.
He visited and took measurements of what shape it had to be to fill the hole in the front. He indicated that he would make a model to check everything was correct before going on to fabricate the final tank. He appeared weeks later with the most magnificent WOODEN tank which can be seen below. The only problem was that it didn't fit!. He now revealed that he couln't weld aluminium but that he had found a subcontractor who would do it for a four figure sum. This was far more than I had expected or was prepared to spend and as far as I was concerned we had better terminate the whole thing. We now had weeks of arguing how he was to be paid for the hours and hours and hours he had spent on the wooden tank We finally agreed a figure at which I thought I was being absolutely done and was being taken for the proverbial ride.
On a trip to Malton with the Fairley, Pete Robson, who did the engine work, when he heard the story said that he could make a tank but it would have to be in steel and it would be useful to have a model to work to. Back at home, I made a wooden model in a morning and that was duly transported to Yorkshire.
Somewhere around this time, I had seen a chap on E-bay who was making replica Porsche Filler caps. A 4" version was duly ordered from California and was taken with the tank. A bolt-on filler neck was made by George Laycock in Norton to accomadate the huge filler cap. A few weeks later it arrived by courier and is now fitted and in operation. One day I shall work out what it holds but it's a bloody lot! You will note from the photograph below that it has a flip up filler and not the Porsche replica. Simple reason is that the Porsche one was put away safely and for the life of me I cannot remember where!. A replacement had to be purchased and the tank modified to take it. Pete Robson made a beautiful job and baffled the main tank to prevent surge. I paid less for this one than the wooden one.
I now have a thing about fuel tanks and go absolutely rigid even at the mention of tanks especially wooden ones.
Have a laugh on me, a sorry tale!!