Two luxury vehicles reduced to ashes: coincidence?

A rare 1934 Hispano-Suiza vehicle worth $2 million was reduced to ashes after a fire in a truck.

The event Monterey Car Week had just ended in the United States when a tragic fire struck an exceptional vehicle. A Hispano-Suiza J12 Vanvooren of 1934 was reduced to ashes. A feu broke out in the truck that was transporting her.

1934 classic car catches fire in truck on highway

This extremely rare classic car had just won second place in the Concours d’Elegance Pebble Beach 2024 in the European Classic Car category. With an estimated price of nearly 2 million dollarsthis Hispano-Suiza was one of the jewels of this competition. The firefighters were quickly dispatched to the scene to extinguish the fire on Wednesday, September 4. But the damage was already done.

Now the car is no longer just a simple carcassFortunately, the truck driver managed to detach his vehicle from the trailer. He prevented the fire from spreading to his cabin. No injuries is not to be deplored, but car enthusiasts have only their eyes to cry with before the ashes of this legendary Hispano-Suiza.

Oddly enough, this is not the first incident of this kind that has happened during Monterey Car Week in this year 2024. Just a few days later, a Ford Ghia Probe 1 Concept of 1979 was also destroyed in a similar fire. This collector car was valued at approximately 1 million dollars.

Two vehicles worth $3 million go up in smoke

Despite this strange coincidenceMonterey Fire Department Chief Chris Grogan said reassuring. He said there was no reason to suspect a criminal act. He says it’s just “a run of bad luck.”

Unfortunately, incidents of this type occur more frequently on older vehicles than on modern ones. Classic cars are extremely vulnerable. These two tragic events remind us of the importance of doing good secure these vehicles during transport. The Hispano-Suiza, like the Ford Ghia Probe 1 Concept, are vehicles of collection of inestimable value.

Although there is no reason to believe that these fires were caused by arson, it is sad to see such vehicles go up in smoke. It would be strange if a car enthusiast could deliberately set fire to such prestigious vehicles during an event such as Monterey Car Week. In any case, we must now hope that these two fires remain isolated cases. Even for the upcoming editions of Monterey Car Week…