the Model T Ford had one thing in common. Their fuel tank was mounted on the engine side of the firewall. Really in your lap!

Never owned a model T but did have a model A. In the A the gas tank made up the top of the fire wall and the top of the dash board. So that really made it in side the car.

Also had a couple of Jeeps, CJ2A and a CJ3B, they had the gas tank right under the drivers seat,

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/0805sr-ford-model-a-fuel-tank-dashboard-cowl-assembly/

 

That seems comparatively safe compared to being surrounded by the bomb that is a lithium battery!
Your average fire brigade can put out a petrol fire.

 

In my day, the gas cap was under the license plate.

My dad owned a 1963 Mercedes Benz for many years. Its gas cap was also under the license plate. When he finally sold it back in 1990, it still had its original Blaupunkt radio with its vacuum tube tech intact. It was fun to turn it on and having to wait a minute or so for it to warm up and listen to some music. You had to have a pretty steady wrist to accurately tune whatever station you wanted to listen to.

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, it still had its original Blaupunkt radio with its vacuum tube tech intact. It was fun to turn it on and having to wait a minute or so for it to warm up

They had the old electro-mechanical vibrator power supply in order to produce the HV DC.

 

I must be old because I can't even imagine the need for a little arrow to tell someone where the gas cap is.

Maybe some little arrows to tell you where the brake and gas pedals are.

It's great when you are driving a rental car!

 

I got a chuckle recently when my sister-in-law purchased a new car after owing the last one for 10yrs, When she went to gas it up, pulled up as usual and discovered the cap was on the 'wrong' side.
So of course drove to the other side of the pump, guess what? same thing !

 

It's great when you are driving a rental car!

I wouldn't take a rental car off the lot without familiarizing myself with it.

Most importantly noting any damage, and the milage.

 

Most importantly noting any damage, and the milage.

And: how to run wipers and hazards.

 

I wouldn't take a rental car off the lot without familiarizing myself with it.

Most importantly noting any damage, and the milage.

It's awesome you can remember things like which side of the rental car the fuel filler is on. I cannot remember, I need the little symbol.