Jalopnik: Car Fires

Firefighters Save Classic Cars From Blaze

Raphael Orlove — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST

A fire at a box and supply store in Ohio last night quickly spread to a car collision repair shop next door that also stores vintage automobiles. Firefighters and workers at the garage rushed to save the cars from the intense fire. More »

See What Happens When A Chevy Impala Sets Itself On Fire

Tom Joslin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST

Not content to leave all the fiery fun to exotic cars, a Chevy Impala recently decided to torch itself after a routine oil change. As you can see, everything appears to be business as usual until a service technician started the car and interrupted his co-worker's snack time by starting an unexpected engine fire. More »

Watch a Corvette Z06 roast itself in the Netherlands

Tom Joslin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST

After a photo shoot in the Dutch city of Baarn last weekend this Corvette decided to prove it too wanted to be an exotic car and set its engine on fire. Fortunately for the car's owner and somewhat unfortunately for us the fire is a little bit smaller than the exotic Italian flambé we've grown accustomed to. More »

A Car Exploding In Flames At 1000 FPS Is The Most Awesome Video I've Seen Today

Ray Wert — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:45:00 EST

This is a video of 'The Stuntbusters' — Speed TV's artisanal automotive show that I think just sets crap on fire — blow up and flip what looks like a 1974-1980 MG Midget 1500 at 1000 frames per second. More »

German Cops Track 4.2 Million Cell Phone Connects, Find Zero Criminals

Raphael Orlove — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

In an effort to catch the arsonists responsible for thousands of burned cars in Germany's capital, and not just that one jealous guy from last year, Berlin police have monitered 4.2 million cell phone connections. They haven't caught a single arsonist. More »

Are the Los Angeles car fires an act of 'domestic terrorism?'

Matt Hardigree — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST

Someone's torched more than 35 cars over the last three nights in Los Angeles area and everyone wants to know why. Are these bored kids? A sophisticated criminal? Or, as one mayor offered, is this an act of domestic terrorism? More »

See what happens when a Lamborghini Gallardo decides to set itself on fire

Tom Joslin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:30:00 EST

For whatever reason, a few days before Christmas this orange Lamborghini Gallardo decided to torch itself. This is only the most recent incident in a disturbing trend of supercar self-immolation that seems to be taking the world by storm. More »

Watch a Ferrari 599 GTB burn to the ground in Dubai

Tom Joslin — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST

Not content to leave the self immolation to the mid-engine Ferraris, this past week a 599 GTB joined in the fun, burning itself to the ground on the streets of Dubai. The vehicle quickly set fire while driving down the road, forcing the owner to abandon the car in the middle of traffic. More »

10 special edition Neiman Marcus Ferrari FFs sell in only 50 minutes

Tom Joslin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST

Last month we told you about the special edition Italian Shooting Brake that would be on all of the Christmas lists of whoever actually buys exotic cars from luxury department store catalogs. Upon going on sale the 10 limited edition Neiman Marcus Ferrari FF's were sold out within 50 minutes. More »

Man who set fire to 100 cars was just jealous

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EDT

It turns out the guy setting fire to hundreds of cars in Berlin wasn't a pyromaniac Guy Fawkes but instead a 27-year-old man bummed about not having a job or nice things. Hey, still sounds like he's part of the "Neun und Neunzig Prozent" though, right? More »

'57 Chevrolet 150 featured on History Channel bursts into flames

Tom Joslin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EDT

According to the infallible news source that is TMZ, the 1957 Chevrolet 150 that was the focus of a night of predictable cross over shows on the History channel was damaged when it burst into flames yesterday. More »

How did a Ford GT driver survive this fiery crash?

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EDT

The driver of this $140,000 Ford GT was traveling through Norton Shores, Mich., when he swerved to avoid a car heading into a driveway. The GT lost control and was split-in-half and roasted by a utility pole like a giant, V8-powered sunflower seed. The passenger and the driver somehow survived the crash, though the extent of their injuries are unknown. More »

London’s burning (and so is this Miata)

Peter Orosz — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EDT

Note to the anonymous London rioter who set fire to this first generation Mazda Miata in the Borough of Hackney: Don’t. Just don’t. More »

This is the scariest photo from the London riots

Ray Wert — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 22:30:00 EDT

Violence and looting has raged across London and spread to three other major British cities, as authorities struggle to contain the country's most serious unrest since race riots set the capital ablaze in the 1980s. And yes, that's a double-decker bus on fire. More »

Twin-Turbo Ford GT burns to an ironic crisp

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 19 May 2011 13:30:00 EDT

Even on fire this 1,000-horsepower twin-turbo Ford GT is kind of sexy. Just look at the outline in the flames. Despite the sadness we feel at seeing a GT burn to the ground, there's a bit of schadenfreude in it for you Ferrari enthusiasts out there. More »

Texas wildfires claim vintage Jaguar

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EDT

The devastating wildfires in West Texas have claimed lives, property, and this man's restored Jaguar. Is that an Mk. IX? Sad. (AP Photo/LM Otero) More »

You'll feel bad about this guy's Audi "poofing into flames" until you see this photo

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EDT

When someone emails in a tip about an individual losing their car to flames I usually feel bad. Even when I saw the ridiculous headline, Audi 'just poofed into flames' in Santa Rosa, I still felt bad. Then I took a closer look at the guy. More »

How a man saved his house by setting his car on fire

Justin Hyde — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EDT

To raise the $15,000 needed to keep his home, Utah resident John Maxim pledged to burn his Ford Escort wagon if he got the money. He did, it burned, and now he has a criminal record. More »

Trucker Casually Gives Interview As His Rig Burns Behind Him

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:30:00 EST

Give credit to trucker Larry Armstrong, he seems to be taking the slow incineration of his 18-wheeler on a Dallas freeway yesterday in stride. Perhaps it was because the truck was empty, or maybe this just happens to him often. More »

BMW Burns Like Atlanta Because Of A Little Snow

Justin Hyde — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST

An Atlanta TV crew setup for a live shot on winter weather caught a BMW 5-Series slipping, spinning and suddenly catching on fire. This is not how you want to dispose of the ultimate driving machine. More »

The Carnage Of San Bruno's Deadly Fire

Ray Wert — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EDT

Last night, as residents of the sleepy San Francisco suburb of San Bruno sat down to dinner, their world exploded in a fireball. Here's a closer look at the carnage. More »

Manhattan Pier On Fire

Ray Wert — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:10:00 EDT

A New York City pier filled with sanitation trucks and vehicles is on fire down the street from my apartment. Cool! [Gawker] More »

This Pile Of Burnt Metal Used To Be A Ferrari 458 Italia

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EDT

The fire that consumed this Ferrari 458 Italia was so bad the only recognizable pieces left are the wheels. More »

Ferrari 458 Burns In Paris, Still Hot Like Love

Sam Smith — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:30:00 EDT

A Ferrari 458 Italia caught fire in Paris earlier this month. Is anyone else noticing a pattern? Note to self: When winning lotto, shell out for flameproof pants. It just seems prudent. [Autogespot via TCL] More »

Lamborghini Recalls Murcielago Due To Fuel Leak, Fires

Wes Siler — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:30:00 EDT

Know how Lamborghinis keep going up in flames? Looks like a fuel leak could be the cause. Apparently, "Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in... fire." Certain Murcielagos are being recalled. More details here. More »

Audi R8 Remembers It's A Lamborghini, Catches Fire

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:30:00 EDT

Here's a friendly reminder to all those considering purchase of a supercar: Always remember, kids — the Audi R8 is practically a Lamborghini and thus prone to unfortunate bouts of self-immolation. (Hat tip to m2m) [Autogespot] More »

Four Tata Nanos Go Up In Flames In India

Wes Siler — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EDT

The Tata Nano, the cheapest car in the world, is awash in bad press after four brand-new cars have caught fire in India. Is Tata about to become the Indian Toyota? More »

German Man Cooks Car Instead Of Defrosting It

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST

A 76-year-old German man attempting to bring his car out of a deep freeze put a space heater under the hood aimed at the engine, then walked away. It promptly caught fire and burned to the ground. Oops. [Reuters] More »

This Corvair Is Exactly Why We Need The Evergreen 747 Supertanker

Ray Wert — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EDT

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What's left of this first-generation Chevy Corvair found in front of what's left of its garage yesterday in Tujunga, California is exactly the reason we need the Evergreen 747 Supertanker fighting the Station Fire. Save the Chevys! More »

Woman Checks Gas Can With Lighter, Gets Burnt

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:45:00 EDT

An Illinois woman used a lighter to illuminate the contents of a gas can in her car. Predictably, the fumes ignited and exploded, lighting the car's interior on fire. The Darwin honorable mention's now recovering from second degree burns. [SunTimes] More »

Porsche Carrera GT Burns In Shanghai

Wes Siler — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EDT

This Porsche Carrera GT caught fire at a track day at the Shanghai International Circuit, burning to a crisp shell before marshals were able to extinguish the blaze. Strangely poetic accident report below. More »

Why You Shouldn't Drive Your State Police Car To A Honduran Protest Rally

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EDT

The leadership struggle in Honduras has been fairly bloodless, but it doesn't mean supporters of ousted President Zelaya won't take out their aggression on poorly-disguised police vehicles trying to infiltrate a rally. Here's the story of one such incident. More »

Most Recent Lamborghini Gallardo BBQ Now With Video

The Auto Insider — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EDT

Not content with still imagery of burning supercars, we've dug up some juicy footage of that extra crispy, molotov cocktail-esque Lamborghini Gallardo that we delightfully brought you yesterday. Flaming exotic number 20, we salute you. More »

Another Lamborghini Gallardo Goes Up In Flames

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EDT

Add another to the list of Lamborghinis lost to sudden and catastrophic fires. This latest bull-headed super car to catch fire did so outside a pub in England. More »

The Saddest Thing You'll See All Day: Jaguar E-Type Fire

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:15:00 EDT

The Jaguar E-Type is on every car-nuts must-have list as one of the most lust-worthy road-going cars ever produced. This guy managed to finally buy his own. It caught fire on the way home. More »

French Hooligans Burn 1,147 Cars To Celebrate New Year

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST

Sacré bleu! The French Interior Ministry is reporting the country's emerging New Year's Eve pastime of burning cars for fun has resulted in 1,147 torched automobiles, up 30.64% from last year. More »

Real Life Grand Theft Auto - Portland, Maine Edition

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:40:00 EDT

We didn't actually know Portland, Maine had crime or even roads, we always just assumed it was an idyllic beach town where Bostonians drove for long weekends to eat big lobsters. Apparently it's actually Maine's largest city and the location of a seriously impressive crime spree straight out of Grand Theft Auto. Thomas Cassidy, 19, apparently went off the deep end and randomly began burgling and vandalizing and then starting cars on fire. He managed to get through ten cars in a little over two hours before police caught up to him by accident while canvasing for witnesses. More »