Another Model A lost

[Pepsi Mechanic]

That would be a heart breaker ..... But I'll bet there would be some parts that can be re used ... the remains would work as a parts car ... It is a downer that the fire happened but you must alway look on and keep your head up ... make sure to keep a few bucks from the insurance to get another A .... If all else fails I definately would keep the fuel tank .... amazing what heat can do

 

[Bruce Adams]

Wha would cause the gas tank to swell up like that?
Internal heat greater than external heat?
Explosion?

 

[Honkey84]

Brent : I bet the exhaust and intake manifolds are usable other than that I'm at a loss. And Maybe the goose neck.

With the amount of heat that was in that fire the manifolds would be cracked or at least warped. I would think that they would be cracked. Just from heating them and not letting it cool slowly, like your suppose to when you weld cast That will cause cracks.

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

With the amount of heat that was in that fire the manifolds would be cracked or at least warped. I would think that they would be cracked. Just from heating them and not letting it cool slowly, like your suppose to when you weld cast That will cause cracks.

Oh I feel VERY comfortable in saying THAT fire did not cool slowly. I'd bet that 'mess' embered for several days. Something to think about. Unless the owner actually took the carburetor off prior to the fire, notice that it is missing. The fuel line and linkages are drooped too. The picture does not show whether it fell down onto the engine pan. I'd suspect the cast parts intake manifold, water outlet, etc. have been so hot they are now brittle. Again, I really cannot think of a single thing that is worth salvaging off of the car ....except the Title.

 

[Roadster62]

Would anyone really feel safe if ANY part of that car was used on a restoration that was driving down the road? Its a TV or movie prop, nothing more, but I'd still like to have the gas tank.

 

[Reds34]

It would be interesting to see a car going down the road with those wheels on it.

Red

 

[Randy in Illinois]

Mag, Don't know if I missed something. How did the fire start? Was it a fault with the car or other causes? Maybe we can learn something here. I feel the loss for a fellow Model A owner.

 

[MrTube]

Not sure just HOW it actually started, but that part of Texas saw terrific brush fires that spiraled out of control burning up hundreds of homes. I saw it on the national news. This Model A just got in the way of the wild fires that were going through that area.

Old Cars Weekly had an article about a man who had 175 collector cars, Shelby Cobras, Vettes, Mustangs, A's, Studebakers, the whole gauntlet that were burned up in the fires. Lost everything.

Along with last spring's terrible tornado outbreaks in the South, the wild fires in Texas, and the terrific rains in the N.E. from Hurricane Irene, I would venture there were quite a lot of antique cars that were destroyed this year.

I'm sure there are all kinds of antiques were lost.. Look at all of the beautiful 100+ yr old homes that got flooded.

 

[Hitchhiker]

Ok, ...giving you the benefit of the doubt with your statement, exactly what would be the plan? Which part would you start with and then explain the process please?? Which item next???

.

Isn't it obvious? You just replace every part....then the car is fixed....

gotta agree...nothing savable but the title.

 

[msmaron]

looks like from one of the photos the front spring melted and collapsed

 

[MAG]

Yes, this Model A was a victim of the wildfire that swept through the Bastrop, Texas area. 1,250 homes destroyed and 35,000 acres burned. The owner and his wife barely had time to get out. No time to take anything with them. Fortunately their home was spared. This area is covered by pine trees. Pine needles everywhere. A very severe drought has plagued the area for months. Over 85 days with temps beyond 100 degrees. All the trees and brush were very dry. The fire was intensified by 20 to 30 mph winds. Firemen fought the blaze for several days.
The front axle was on the ground due to the engine weight and the intense heat. The Aluminum transmission adapter was nothing but a pile of melted aluminum. None of the wheels were straight. No trace of the new tires. There was no oil on the dipstick. It was "blued" by the heat. It would take too long to describe all the damage.
I agree with Brent. Nothing worth salvaging but the title.

 

[Tom Foster]

How did the fire start?

I believe investigators have said they are satisfied that the huge fire started when dead pine trees, victims of the drought, fell into power lines. The resulting sparks set it off. Terrible shame, and there have been many others in Texas this year. The Bastrop fire was the biggest by far.
Fearless

 

[peters180a/170b]

I can not believe this story . My friend Charlie took me over Saturday Oct 1 , to show me a early 1930 standard coupe. Owner was given this car to him by his father in the 50's who was the original owner. At the time the son had no place to store it, so Good old Aunt had a barn. Aunts boy friend got mad at her and started a fire in the barn.The fireman pushed the coupe out but after the inside was shot, roof and original black paint was med.well done. I checked the car out and found the whole chassis was unrestored and looked to be very low mileage car.Sheet metal looks good and not warped. [Trunk lid closes well as the doors] A little rust break thru on drivers door ,fenders had been repaired ,,but on the car[-fenders were never off the car].Electic wiper body is there horn missing ,radiator and shell. Other then that its do-able. Think i'll offer him $1000.00 [after Hershey].He wants to get the engine started so he can hear it one more time and then sell it...So we will see/ car has been sitting outside since the early 60's but covered and under the mans deck.