You don’t often hear about disasters befalling the annual luxury gathering that is the Monterey Car Week. However, this year catastrophe struck when a priceless Ford Ghia Probe 1 Concept Car went up in flames leaving the event and now a second multi-million-dollar motor has been destroyed in a fire following the meet.
Last week, a $2 million dollar Hispano-Suiza classic car caught fire while being towed in Monterey, reports local news outlet the Monterey Herald. After being exhibited at Classic Car Week in Monterey, the 1934 Hispano-Suiza J12 Vanvooren Cabriolet was being towed along Monterey-Salinas Highway and York Road last week when disaster struck.
The trailer hauling the classic was fully engulfed in flames at around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday September 4 and the fire quickly spread to nearby vegetation. As the Monterey Herald reports:
The crews moved quickly and extinguished the fire on both the trailer and the vegetation, preventing further spread according to a news release from the city of Monterey. The Monterey-Salinas Highway was closed in both directions and traffic was diverted through Lower Ragsdale Drive for about an hour and a half until the trailer and vehicle was removed.
A total of 16 fire personnel worked together, led by the Monterey Fire Department, including two division chiefs from Monterey Fire and Monterey County Regional Fire District, four engines and one water tender. The Monterey Police Department also helped with traffic control and Pacific Gas & Electric inspected nearby power lines for any damage.
Thankfully the driver of the truck towing the classic car was able to exit the vehicle safely and CBS News reports that they unhitched their truck and got away from the scene with only minor injuries. The car, however, was much less fortunate.
After claiming a second-place award at Classic Car Week, the car was completely destroyed by the blaze. Its slick European bodywork was singed off the frame and the car’s enormous V12 up front was subject to some intense temperatures while the fire raged.
Firefighters responding to the blaze shut the highway while tackling the fire. They have since opened an investigation into the fire, but do not believe there to be anything suspicious about the tragedy. As CarScoops adds:
Firefighters claim that there aren’t any current reasons for suspicion, despite the fact that another show vehicle, in this case a 1979 Ford’s Ghia Probe 1 Concept Car valued at $1 million, was also destroyed in a trailer fire on August 18 in Monterey.
“This is an unusual event to happen twice,” says Monterey Fire Division Chief Chris Grogan. “Neither one of them appears to be suspicious. It’s just a string of bad luck.” The J12 is notable as it was initially offered with a 9.4-liter V12. This example is owned by Hong Kong billionaire businessman Michael Kadoorie, says Monterey County Now.
The 1934 Hispano-Suiza J12 Vanvooren Cabriolet had just taken second place in the J-1: European Classic Touring Early category at the Monterey event. Past rosette winners at California’s annual summer of car shows have included a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante as well as a Nazi era Mercedes-Benz 540 K Autobahnkurier.
