Not a good day - My Griff catches fire

[TVR OWL]

Going up Winnats Pass Castleton today. Smelled burning and then felt the clutch pedal give way. Managed to get to the top of the hill in second gear but by then smoke was coming into the cabin. Then pulled over to the side of the road when flames lapped out of the bonnet. Didnt have my fire extinguisher with me (it was in the back of my Cerbera !) so poured 4 litres of cola and 2 litres of coolant I had in the boot over the fire in the engine bay. Flames died down for a while but soon came back. Passing motorists gave me more water and one had a small powder fire extinguisher . . . but in the end had to just let the fire take hold and wait for the fire brigade. Came about 15 minutes later and put the fire out. Car towed away to recovery firms compound

Will never drive again without a couple of extingusishers on board.

Press Photographer happened to be passing and took this photograph. So now my poor Griffs on the front page of Derby Telegraph

Edited by TVR OWL on Sunday 30th November 20:32

Edited by TVR OWL on Sunday 30th November 20:33

[glasgowrob]

Heart goes out to you m8

How bad is the damage total loss?

[5.0ltr]

Sad day, my thoughts with you.

[Hoover.]

Biggest heart felt sympathies to you.... it's like loosing a limb

[TVR OWL]

15 minutes of flames up to 3 foot out of the bonnet. Flames and a lot of smoke from the cabin (around the gearstick and dash board). Hope its repairable. It was just frustrating having to just stand at the roadside watching it go up in flames. On the plus side Bodywork and most of engine bay looked ok afterwards.

[angry jock]

Awful news.

[MPoxon]

Terrible news. Hope she can be revived.

[TV8]

gutted for you but at least no one was injured.

[philipbrown123]

At least you were not injured.

[DJR 7]

That's a horrible sight.
Glad you got out safely

D

[Moycie]

Wow. Sorry to see this happen. Horrible. At least nobody was hurt. Hope you can still save the car.

[7 TVR]

Sorry for your loss especially as its yellow, any idea of the cause? I know there have been many incidents with fuel lines and corrosion!
Hope you can salvage her!

[Bebee]

Sorry for your pain, I had two Griffs, last one always had a fuel smell.


Looks like the devil was on it's way out with the fire!

[TVR OWL]

As I got a burning smell just prior to the clutch pedal giving way I assume the fire started as a result of the clutch failure and that the fire spread from there. Or maybe was it started from a wiriing failure. Dont know.
Best if you all make sure you carry a fire extinguisher in the boot. . . just in case

Edited by TVR OWL on Sunday 30th November 21:42

[rigga]

As others have stated, that's gutting and hopefully the damage can be repaired, cars can be fixed, you can't.
On a side note regarding the fire extinguisher, yes a good idea to carry one, especially in a fiberglass car which can burn rather rapid, but I wouldn't keep it in the boot as a fire may disable the switch to open the boot to retrieve the extinguisher, I have mine mounted securely behind the driver's seat so can grab it quickly.

[Don1]

Very sorry to hear of your pain - glad you are OK though.

[TVRJAS]

A very sorry sight.

Having to stand and watch it go up must be sickening and heartbreaking.

It's like writing an obituary... My thoughts are with you

[clarkmagpie]

rigga said:

As others have stated, that's gutting and hopefully the damage can be repaired, cars can be fixed, you can't.
On a side note regarding the fire extinguisher, yes a good idea to carry one, especially in a fiberglass car which can burn rather rapid, but I wouldn't keep it in the boot as a fire may disable the switch to open the boot to retrieve the extinguisher, I have mine mounted securely behind the driver's seat so can grab it quickly.

That's where I keep mine as well.
Hopefully I will never need it.

[Chuffmeister]

That is bloody frustrating, just having to stand back, I hope its repairable. At least you were okay.

It is possible that the fire has burnt through the hydraulic hoses for the clutch. The fire looks to have originated in the fuel hose area. It may have been burning a short while before you noticed it, hence the eventual clutch hydraulic failure?

[Pursyluv]

Sorry to see this Graham, relieved you're okay and I hope the car is repairable........time to buy a fire extinguisher I think