For Sale: Fuel Safe brand fuel cell for BIRKIN cars..

[pethier]

 

This Fuel Safe brand fuel cell was used in a Birkin car.  One thing I know for sure is that it will NOT fit in a Caterham with de Dion rear suspension.

 

I suspect that this is not a custom-made cell.  Fuel Safe does list both a 5-gallon and a 7-gallon tank for Lotus 7 cars.  I theorize that companies selling live-axle Seven clones used the same sort of tank as the factory Lotus tank.  I feel there is a strong possibility that this cell will fit in Lotus and Caterham live-axle Sevens, and maybe other Seven clones.  There is what looks like a factory sticker on the cell, but all printing has faded from it.  Fuel Safe does not show any photographs of the actual tanks for Lotus 7 cars.

 

This fuel cell comes with what purports to be unused foam blocks to replace the used blocks now in-place.

 

I also have what I believe to be the original Birkin tank. I'm not ready to offer that one yet.

 

From the Fuel Safe website:

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Fuel Safe®'s Lotus Super 7 racing fuel cell delivers optimal safety and fuel performance in two sizes: 5 and 7 gallons. Both sizes of racing fuel cells are built to fit within the location of the factory installed fuel tank. The Lotus Super 7 racing fuel cells from Fuel Safe® are made of the highest grade materials available designed to win races. 

Each Lotus racing fuel cell includes:

TIG welded aluminum container
Safety baffling foam
Factory 4x6 fill plate

 

Part No.     Capacity     Information
SA113    7 gallons    Lotus Pro Cell® Fuel Bladder in an aluminum container
SA113B     5 gallons    Lotus Pro Cell® Fuel Bladder in an aluminum container

 

Pro Cell® Lotus Super 7 Complete Fuel Cell 7 Gallon, SA113
Sale price $2,871.00
Pro Cell® Lotus Super 7 Complete Fuel Cell 5 Gallon, SA113B
Sale price $2,825.00

Current Lead Time: 8+ Weeks
 

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My Flickr album has several photos of the fuel cell and measurements. 

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pethier/albums/72177720326311251/

 

[11Budlite]

I don't think that's the standard Fuel Safe Lotus 7 cell. That looks like the Birkin fuel cell that was done as a group buy around 2005, specifically to replace the standard Birkin fuel tank. I had one of those in my Birkin and I know it held more than 7 gallons. I think it was around 10 gallons. Here's an old photo of mine.

 

Edited May 26, 2025 by 11Budlite

[11Budlite]

If you measure the original Birkin tank it should be very close in size to the Fuel Safe fuel cell. That should confirm that it was a part of the Birkin group buy.

I have one of the standard Fuel Safe Lotus 7 fuel cells in my rolling chassis and it's definitely smaller.

[pethier]

4 hours ago, 11Budlite said:

If you measure the original Birkin tank it should be very close in size to the Fuel Safe fuel cell. That should confirm that it was a part of the Birkin group buy.

I have one of the standard Fuel Safe Lotus 7 fuel cells in my rolling chassis and it's definitely smaller.

I think you are on to something.  If you see the photo album, you will see that the measurements are virtually-identical.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pethier/albums/72177720326311251/

 

Here is the album for the original Birkin tank:

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pethier/albums/72177720326317327/