This maybe true - but look where they are positioned on comparison to the tank on a mini. Almost no chance of damanging the tank during rear end crash and they are external to the car - not in the boot, and they are designed possibly to detach in a crash.

A plastic tank in the boot of a Mini would be much safer than a steel tank. A plastic tank can deform a lot more than a steel tank before it ruptures.

Just think all the late Monaros that are running around Australia have a fuel tank that is mounted in such a way that is considered unsafe for the United States market, so Holden had to make a different tank. That is why you see all those burnt out Monaros on the side of the road.

I used to drive a race car that had the fuel tank under my legs. I used to get a lot of comments about how unsafe it was. I said that if it was not safe to mount a tank there then it would be not safe to stick my legs there.

Presumably the scruitineers thought it was OK. And you went racing and survived.............

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.

Lets face it the safest place is right in the middle of the car and that is where the driver and fuel tank were located (and the battery was under the back of the seat) Lots of old single seaters have the tank in strange spots.

That's nothing!

At the Birdwood motor museum theres a really long wheelbase dragster with the BIG diff and axle setup under the legs of the driver (would get dam hot thrashing that diff I imagine!!!) Myave that's why it's in the museum not on the track hahaha.

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T