Having caused Rodger to review the safety issues of an exposed '32 gas tank I can say that most Lab Chemists have suffered through OSHA regulations but on the other hand I have seen some three lab fires and know of other cases where calculated risks were exceeded. I will say I was subjected to the same questioning harassment when I was building my '29 roadster with a tank in the trunk. After worrying about this I reinforced the back of the trunk with a 1/4" inch plate 4" wide across the inner rear of the stainless trunk AND added a front stainless Model A bumper across the rear which fits into the "Model A look" theme. I agree with Bob and Matty that a rear collison from a locomotive or an 18 wheeler is beyond consideration and of course asteroid impact is not covered! The stock '32 did have a meager bumper behind the external tank and many rods have a tube bar between the rear frame rails. I guess it comes down to "calculated risk". A few months ago I parked my replica roadster near a very nice steel '32 Tudor with a SBC and excellent leather interior and was interested to see the stock tank but it did have an external bumper, although the stock '32 bumper is much weaker than the stout Model A bumper. Sooooo, to Rodger and others I say I did respond to the hazing comments of this Forum and protected my tank (stainless + 1/4" plate + bumper) as best I could but in the final analysis all of hot rodding is a calculated risk anyway and you do the best you can and take your chances.
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder