Gas tank + Battery + frontal impact = WOOOSH!???

[Texel]

With my gas tank out for a repair, I started thinking about how it would look if it took a hard smack in the front, the tank seam looks like it may burst fairly easily and with 12 volts sitting in a plastic box about 6" away, seems like a recipe for crispy critters.

Do the front tank porsches go up in flames any easier than other cars in a frontal crash?

Might get some nomex undies for xmas!

Although this one below did okay

[tazzieman]

They are pretty robust and I don't think there is a special propensity for immolation.
Porsche engineering including crash testing will allow the best result under given circumstances.
A frontal impact in a front engined car can rupture fuel lines under pressure , and the battery is nearby also.
The spare tyre is designed to spread some of the impact. Round surfaces on tanks impart considerable strength.
You can put the battery in the smuggler's box if it makes you feel safer.
I don't lose sleep over the position of the tank/battery.

[kodioneill]

If you hit something hard enough to rupture the fuel tank you wont live to see it.

[kidrock]

there's a lot of info on this, carried on many previous threads. Many of these same vehicles have taken some considerable damage, and I can't remember an instance of combustion from the front. It's actually pretty amazing, the amount of front end damage these cars can handle.

Now, fires from the rear? Much more to be concerned about.

[Justin@Athens]

Do not remove the spare tire...it is part of the design. Early crumple zone technology.

[K Sykes]

Interesting picture - Cop, guy in a Santa suit and check the length of the heels below the passenger door. Toss in the damage, and therefore the speed.. looks like an interesting story behind the crash.

[naples911]

Hopefully I won't have to back up my words but I believe it would be easier to bail out of an open targa top, if you're doing this type of smoke show. Of course the coupe guys will claim that the open top will only allow more air into the cabin therefore allowing a more speedy combustion of the occupant. It is an interesting debate question.

btw, where was that photo taken?

[dicklague]

Originally Posted by K Sykes

Interesting picture - Cop, guy in a Santa suit and check the length of the heels below the passenger door. Toss in the damage, and therefore the speed.. looks like an interesting story behind the crash.

I had the same thoughts on the details in the crash. NYC, incredible spike heels, Santa Suite driver.......must have been some office Christmas party!!!

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by Justin@Athens

Do not remove the spare tire...it is part of the design. Early crumple zone technology.

Say what? You might want to check this thread out before continuing with that line of thinking.

Safe to remove the spare tire?

[tharbert]

It's actually 5th Ave and 19th St., NYC. Part of Taxi Driver was shot there.


View Larger Map

Saphora was the clue...

[gamin]

Saw a 993 cabro at dC auto that hit a tree dead on. Speedo stuck at 110. Deep concave damage between the fenders. Think the car was a little cross eyed. Fuel tank did not rupture. Everything from the doors back was in good shape. Pretty amazing cars.

[mnez]

Originally Posted by Justin@Athens

Do not remove the spare tire...it is part of the design. Early crumple zone technology.

Pure B.S.

[Justin@Athens]

Originally Posted by mnez

Pure B.S.

From what I can tell, there is no definitive answer one way or the other. You can call it BS if you want, but mine will stay in.

[Texel]

Thanks for the replies, seems like there is no issue.

When I was googling images I couldn't find a single case of a fire starting at the front but plenty of the Engine or something burning in the back so that was interesting.

Does seem like the targas may be faster to get out of, but I like to think that if the flames were licking at my polyester encased goolies I'd make it out of the coupe sunroof just about as quick!

The story of Father Xmas and the power pole is here. Or if the link doesn't work google jalopnik + Porsche + santa and see if that works

Google Image Result for http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/12/2011/12/xlarge_87bba1f03d26fa7a4f3954f4a9dada5c.jpg

[Daves911L]

In response to Justin's speculation about crumple zones, there was an advertising piece from back in the the day (maybe '69 or thereabouts) featuring a 911 that had impacted a tree at speed. Don't remember the text exactly, but it did discuss the benefits of the spare tire up front helping to protect the occupants in such a crash. Never underestimate the Porsche engineers and how far ahead of the times they typically were.

[ashleywebe]

Everything from the doors back was in good shape.

[eastbay]

It (fire) happens
Man Killed in Cardiff Crash Identified - Encinitas, CA Patch


The spare tire "crumple zone" theory is a big controversy over on the Corvette forum also, again with no proof either way.

[Ronnie's.930]

All you really need to do is look at how the 911 spare is attached and common sense tells you that it wouldn't do jack **** in the way of crash protection.