OK......as a Ford guy I gotta admit..the hidden gas cap idea by GM was REALLY GOOD ! It started in 55 and ended ......when ? (Anybody got pictures !?) Did 58 have the hidden cap or was it just a 3 year deal ? 6sally6
Ford had them starting in 52, didn't they? https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/hidden-fuel-fillers-of-the-fifties/
I don't know if I have owned a GM car in the 60's and 70's that didn't have the filler hidden. Vettes had a cool fuel door, but the license plate filler was standard stuff on F bodies and A bodies (like my Olds). I don't mind looking at them on a hot rod but they need to be worthy of attention like flip caps.
I’ve seen one on a 56 Ford wagon behind the left back up light since the outside filler was right there. It was quite ingenious as it had to twist up and away from the main tail light unit.
I just remember that many of those low rear mounted fillers were an all around pain in the***** because they could puke gas back on you if the pump was running faster than they wanted to take it and if you filled the tank and soon after parked facing up hill on a grade gas would run out the vent in the cap. Those 56/57 Chebby fillers tend to attract the non car guy old farts at car shows who want to show their non car guy cronies that they remember that they were there and how to open them. I saw a guy break one on someone's 56 one time at an event.
I’ve got a funny one for you. I was sitting behind my 56 FORD at a show and this “know it all” BOZO wanted to show his buddy where the hidden gas filler was. He was determined to push in the reflector above the backup light on the left one and even went to right side and tried it. He actually said to me “Do you have it locked”? I smiled, got up and pulled down the license plate showing the filler. If that guy could have crawled away or slivered like a snake he would …. His buddy was laughing his**** off…made my day!
Cadillac since the mid 30s I think. I know my grandpas 41 was hidden and probably earlier. Glad I’m not the only one who still says “Shivel-lay”!
A quiz. I only missed one. Don’t know Nash very well. http://www.americantorque.com/game/20/16/#cntnt
GM had them hidden behind the license plates on some cars on and off well into the 80's. I only know of 50's cars that hid them behind the taillight, though.
Growing up we were near the bottom of a steep hill, on route preceeding us was a long hill then a short flat then us on a steeper grade. Used to watch a couple Pontiacs some Chevys always leave a trail ( couple quarts ) off good ole leaded gas. Likely HI-test. certainly not close to as much as $1 worth. Oh***** ( BTW ) I have, when new, to pumping gas, had to run the water hose down in my pants
The license plate fills aren't the most terrific for filling, but neither are my dad's 64 Impala or my 62 Bel Air. It's nearly impossible to fill them with today's mostly super-fast pumps without getting gas on the ground (and the car). Albeit, everything I own is low, so that doesn't make it easier to fill.
59-60 Caddy had a small panel in the rear chrome trim which opened up to reveal the gas filler. No hole or handle to open it, just push one side and it flipped out. Mine used to flap around in the wind, so I glued a magnet in the right spot to keep it closed.
My 65 Falcon has the fill below the deck lid, and has been a slow fill for the last 53 years. Glad I don’t have to put up with impatient attendants, since I fuel it myself now.
The Jalopy Journal
