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A rare classic car caught fire and burned to a crisp on Tuesday afternoon in a parking lot at the San Antonio shopping center.
The burned-out car was a 1965 Shelby Cobra, a classic speedster that, in top condition, is valued at around $1 million. Only 150 of the 1965 model were produced.
Owner John Aitken says he isn’t sure quite what happened. He parked his car at the San Antonio Walmart around 4 p.m. on Feb. 23 and went inside to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. When he returned to his car to leave and turned the ignition, the engine backfired, he told the Voice. That’s when he began to see flames coming up from under the hood.
Aitken ran around and opened the hood, thinking he could use a spare shirt to pat the fire out, he said. But the flames were already too powerful and he ended up singeing his eyebrows.
Within minutes the car was completely engulfed in flames. Firefighters say they had no trouble spotting the blaze, as a thick black column of smoke was visible from blocks away.
The fire was extinguished quickly. Fire crews doused the vehicle and sprayed flame-retardant foam over the area. But the car was completely ruined, looking like a melted shell. Even the nearby trees in the parking lot were charred 20 feet up.
As fire officials continued to survey the damage, a crowd of onlookers snapped cell phone photos of the wreckage. Aitken said he had no idea how his car turned into an inferno. He had the vehicle at an auto shop recently, but he didn’t smell any gas leak that might have fueled the blaze.
He said he has insurance on his Cobra, but it only covered about $50,000 in damage. He estimated his vehicle was worth about $120,000.
Despite the loss, he didn’t seem broken-hearted.
“I think it’s just one of those things that happens with old cars,” he said.
I saw the smoke while I was driving home up Highway 85, wondered what was afire.
I’m glad no one was hurt.
@John. I am so sorry for your loss!
The value of 149 1965 Cobras just increased a little bit.
Just an FYI…this wasn’t an original Shelby 427 Cobra – it was a replica. That doesn’t make it any less devastating to the owner, but there’s a huge difference in value. The originals are worth millions, whereas replica values are all over the board (but typically average $30k-$60k when finished).
If the car was a replica then they should edit the article because as written it makes no mention of it being a replica; only that it was a “rare classic car” and a “1965 Cobra”
Taken frmm story:
“A rare classic car caught fire and burned to a crisp on Tuesday afternoon in a parking lot at the San Antonio shopping center.
The burned-out car was a 1965 Shelby Cobra…”
@John Shelby:
Thank you for clarifying that the burnt vehicle was a replica, a critical piece of information not included in the article.
Now the dollar figures at the end of the story make sense, plus the owner’s rather blasé reaction.
It actually looks like a Superformance car, in which case they go for 53k without an engine. Completed cars go from 70k to 130k depending on how they are finished. Regardless it is a shame. Depending on it’s history, an original 427 car will usually fetch 2-3 million.
Sounds like he didn’t shut off the ignition to stop an electric fuel pump.
It seems there is disagreement that this was indeed a rare Shelby Cobra built in 1965. Since it really makes a huge difference, can you please clarify?
If it wasn’t actually a 1965 Cobra, it’s sort of like reporting a Picasso burned when it was actually a lithograph replica.
Before I realized it was a replica I admit I was wondering why on earth someone would leave an actual 1965 Cobra unattended in a parking lot, and right next to the cart return at that. Still a bummer, though; glad you’re able to take in stride, John.
Everyone has attachments to their cars including the idiots who say its ” ONLY ” 30-40k it SUCKS. I’ve met this guy before and he let my girl sit in the car and take pictures its a terrible loss for a great guy and nobody is mentioning how he could’ve been seriously injured. I hope none of you get in your car new or old and have it start fire.
– The Hope Diamond was sold (but it was really a cz)
– A rare Honus Wagner baseball card stolen (a copy of an actual one)
– Valuable Rolex watches being sold for 5.00 each (they are knockoffs)
I guess sometimes the headline is more eye catching if you embellish the actual facts.
In defense of journalist Mark Noak, I imagine what happened is that John Aitken described his car as a replica 1965 Shelby Cobra, adding some highlights about the original, and Mark, whose areas of expertise lie outside the world of cars, missed that little word “replica”.
In any case, @D Man, you’re absolutely right; it’s very fortunate that no one got hurt and that the firefighters arrived quickly.
^ apologies for misspelling Mark Noack’s name
Unfortunately, I think he may have forgotten that there was a fire extinguisher attached in rear of the passenger area right between the seats, unless it was empty prior to the fire. I have a photo of it in this car after the fire and it is still securely fastened in place and somewhat discolored!
I’ve used fire extinguishers before having been a firefighter for ten years and an auto racing marshal for thirsty-three years at everything from Formula 1 events to club racing. Sometimes you just have to make that mess to avoid a further one. As you say HALON worked well but is no longer allowed. For those who maybe be interested have a look at what a Cold Fire extinguisher can do when fighting an auto fire/. They are worth the investment if you know how to use one correctly.
Sorry for the misspellings above and I meant to say thirty-three years above. Bad keyboard day.
Like many have said it was neither rare nor classic. Just a replica. You can see the fiberglass fibers where the fender burnt away. Real Cobras are aluminum.
@Paul
Have you ever used a dry chemical fire extinguisher? They make an extrordinary mess. granted, the powder is not as bad as a destroyed car, but frankly, I can understand why someone might hesitate to use one. I have had minor fires in the kitchen before and my instinct is to extinguish them as quickly as possible, which usually involved snuffing them with a dish towel. This is done in restaurants all the time. He was probably being optimistic, but once he opened the hood, the fire was able to breath and probably grew rapidly. It’s unfortunate that the manufacture of HALON fire extinguishers was banned. They are very effective and one would be a lot less hesitant to use one.
Hi folks,
Sorry for the delay in joining the conversation here.
I’m going to admit upfront that I’m no expert at identifying vintage cars. Especially when they’re charred to oblivion.
I got the idea that this car was an original Cobra from the owner. He told me his car in top condition would be worth around $800,000. Some officials chatting at scene were also saying it was an original.
There’s still room for doubt here, so I put in a call to the owner to check on this. If he gets back, I’ll post what he tells me.
Never a dull day in Mountain View!