My neighbor's '56 Porsche goes up in smoke (pics)

Dia · 01-10-2014, 10:39 AM

Yesterday I saw my neighbor parking his super sweet '56 Porsche convertible in a spot outside our house where cars often get sideswiped because everyone comes out of the other neighbor's driveway in reverse. The parking places where he lives were all taken, so I offered to let him park it in our driveway so nothing would happen to it.

I think I cursed him.

Viejo · 01-10-2014, 11:40 AM

Good pics. So exactly what went wrong?

twogone · 01-10-2014, 11:47 AM

owwwwwwwch

Ford_6L_E350 · 01-10-2014, 11:47 AM

My first guess would be a German fuel line leak. Especially a fully restored German car will use original natural rubber hoses, and they frequently fail.

It used to be if you saw a car on fire, it was usually a VW. First thing I ever did to a Beetle was to swap in USA synthetic rubber fuel hoses to prevent leaks.

Just my guess and it could be way out in left field.

My sympathies to your neighbor. It really hurts to lose a car you have put a lot of time and energy into.

Mike

Dia · 01-10-2014, 11:50 AM

Not sure, really.

The owner says he was backing it out, smelled gas and the engine wouldn't stop revving. He got out to look and smoke was coming from under the hood.

Once it was up a flatbed, I heard the tow truck driver talking to a cop, sounded like the owner backed it out w/o warming it up, and [something] (fuel line?) "popped right out of the carb." Driver might have mentioned hearing a pop, maybe a backfire?

He was backing it out in a hurry because there were guys taking limbs off a cypress tree overhead, and I guess he didn't want anything to fall on it.