Another historic vehicle which was on display at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has been destroyed in a fire.
Monterey County Now reports the 1934 Hispano-Suiza J12 Vanvooren Cabriolet – which won second place in the J-1: European Classic Touring Early category – caught on fire while being towed inside an enclosed trailer.
The value of the vehicle, owned by Hong Kong billionaire businessman Sir Michael Kadoorie, was estimated at US$2 million (A$3 million).
The driver of the tow vehicle was able to escape with minor injuries after detaching the tow vehicle from the trailer once the fire broke out.
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The tow vehicle wasn’t damaged, but footage shared by KION 46 shows extensive damage to the vintage car.
The publication reports the cause of the fire remains under investigation, but firefighters say it isn’t considered suspicious.
The Hispano-Suiza’s fiery death is the second to befall a vehicle exhibited at this year’s Concours.
A 1979 Ford Ghia Probe 1 Prototype was being transported back to its owner’s home base when a fire also broke out in the trailer carrying it.
While the driver of the tow vehicle was also fortunately able to escape, the Ford was destroyed in the fire.
The Hispano-Suiza at the event
The concept car, of which just one was produced, had been purchased from Ford by Scott Grundfor Company in 2002.
Monterey Fire Division Chief Chris Grogan said it was highly unusual for there to be even one trailer fire after Monterey Car Week.
“This is an unusual event to happen twice,” he told Monterey County Now.
“Neither one of them appears to be suspicious. It’s just a string of bad luck,” he added, noting he’s never experienced something like this in his nearly 30 years fighting fires.
Founded in 1904, Hispano-Suiza was a Spanish luxury car manufacturer. It ended automotive manufacturing shortly after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
The classic name was dusted off for a car once again with the Carmen sports car revealed at the 2019 Geneva motor show.
