Burnt 1968 GTX 440 4 speed

[69bronzeT5]

Came across this while doing Copart searches. It's a true 440 car. Such a shame, wonder what happened. I'm thinking wiring behind the dash based on the heat sourcing from that area.....

RS23L8A185043


http://www.copart.com/c2/homeSearch.html?_eventId=getLot&execution=e6s1&lotId=32326424&returnPage=SEARCH_RESULTS

[69bronzeT5]

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[69bronzeT5]

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[TUFCAT]

you're right, it appears to be a dash fire....very sad.     Looks to be a nicely restored car.

[A12 Superbee]

That's a tragedy!!!!!!!!

I'm going for a second fire extinguisher as I don't reckon one will be enough for most car fires.

[472 R/T SE]

Looks like amp gauge might have had the dreaded loose connection    . 

[ws23rt]

It would be helpful to many if their was some info about what was happening at the time the fire started.  For instance---was the battery connected for the first time on a project and left alone for a time?  
A fire extinguisher should always be close at hand for what we play with.
I am always a bit on edge when I connect the battery for the first time.  An unexpected spark at the batt. connection is not to be passed off until later.

[myk]

Hope the owner was insured.

And...every old car owner should have a fire extinguisher handy; you never know when one of these crates will decide to go up in smoke, restored or not...

[ws23rt]

Hope the owner was insured.

And...every old car owner should have a fire extinguisher handy; you never know when one of these crates will decide to go up in smoke, restored or not...

  Also when we walk away from our project in process for a bit treat it as a child that could do something bad when we are not looking.
My garage is my basement and if something like this were to happen it could take out the whole house.

[bordin34]

Fire Extinguishers are good

[Ghoste]

And if you are leaving it to sit, disconnect the battery.  I know its a pain in the ass to reset your clock but you can do it more quickly than you can replace a car that burns.

[67440chrg]

I get looks when I unhook my battery at cruises but I dont care. I even unhook it at church when I am only there for a hour.

[tan top]

  never a good sight to see  , some ones pride & joy gone up in flames !     looks fixable 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

I think so, too

[moparnation74]

I get looks when I unhook my battery at cruises but I dont care. I even unhook it at church when I am only there for a hour.

I get the same looks as well.  And questions.  Why would you do that?  The above pics is why.

As others stated have a fire extinguisher handy!

[472 R/T SE]

And if you are leaving it to sit, disconnect the battery.  I know its a pain in the ass to reset your clock but you can do it more quickly than you can replace a car that burns.

For me it doesn't have to be a project or a fresh restoration.  I've just automatically opened the hood when I got somewhere & disconnected the +.

[Highbanked Hauler]

I get looks when I unhook my battery at cruises but I dont care. I even unhook it at church when I am only there for a hour.

I get the same looks as well.  And questions.  Why would you do that?  The above pics is why.

As others stated have a fire extinguisher handy!

I went to an AACA meet this fall and was told on the application and at the show to have a fire extinguisher positioned by the left front tire while at the show.

[RJS]

Boy that really looks like an Old Friend's car. I heard it went to Florida, is that were this happened??
Ron

[bristol]

Boy that really looks like an Old Friend's car. I heard it went to Florida, is that were this happened??
Ron

Yeah says Tampa.

[RJS]

The triple black and the headrests make me believe it's the same car.  It was originally a 440 auto with 8 3/4 rear all matching.
The guy I knew was 2nd owner and when he built a new motor he just used another 440 and left the matching block at machine shop, then converted it to 4 speed and gave away the matching trans.  Then he wanted a Dana so off went the original rear.  He insisted on adding the headrests to his seats even though didn't come that way.
The car was super nice but the tell-tail would be he restored the dash years ago and just used regular rivets on the vin.tag and it had a generic piece of metal welded into the trunk to repair the floor.
It was one of the nicest riding Mopars I was ever in.
Ron

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

The triple black and the headrests make me believe it's the same car.  It was originally a 440 auto with 8 3/4 rear all matching.
The guy I knew was 2nd owner and when he built a new motor he just used another 440 and left the matching block at machine shop, then converted it to 4 speed and gave away the matching trans.  Then he wanted a Dana so off went the original rear.  He insisted on adding the headrests to his seats even though didn't come that way.
The car was super nice but the tell-tail would be he restored the dash years ago and just used regular rivets on the vin.tag and it had a generic piece of metal welded into the trunk to repair the floor.
It was one of the nicest riding Mopars I was ever in.
Ron

I was thinking the same Ron....looks like this engine was sprayed orange though...I know Jimmy's was the correct blue....although it could have been resprayed

[RJS]

The triple black and the headrests make me believe it's the same car.  It was originally a 440 auto with 8 3/4 rear all matching.
The guy I knew was 2nd owner and when he built a new motor he just used another 440 and left the matching block at machine shop, then converted it to 4 speed and gave away the matching trans.  Then he wanted a Dana so off went the original rear.  He insisted on adding the headrests to his seats even though didn't come that way.
The car was super nice but the tell-tail would be he restored the dash years ago and just used regular rivets on the vin.tag and it had a generic piece of metal welded into the trunk to repair the floor.
It was one of the nicest riding Mopars I was ever in.
Ron

I hope your right Chris, the other thing that came to mind was I think he had a 26" radiator in a 22" opening.
Sucks that this one is gone but hope it's a different one.
Ron

I was thinking the same Ron....looks like this engine was sprayed orange though...I know Jimmy's was the correct blue....although it could have been resprayed

[Bulldog69]

What a shame!  Thanks for sharing though. Some real good advice about the fire extinguishers and batteries. Thank you!  Maybe when I get ready to hook mine up for the first time, I'll do it outside instead of the garage/house.

[wingcar]

Sad, very sad......it's a reality check for the rest of us.....