A recently prize-winning multi-million dollar classic car has been destroyed in a fire. The incident occurred just days after the vehicle won a prestigious prize at the world’s most important vintage car event.
Valuable piece of automotive history lost
A jewel of automotive history has likely been lost forever. A Hispano-Suiza J12 Vanvooren convertible (built in 1934), valued at two million dollars, fell victim to a devastating fire. The incident occurred on a highway near Monterey, California, just days after the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 2024.
The event unfolded rapidly. Thick smoke suddenly billowed from the trailer, and moments later, flames shot several meters into the sky. The driver reacted quickly, unhitching the tractor unit and moving to safety. While the Monterey Fire Department soon brought the blaze under control, it was too late for the valuable classic car. All that remained was a burnt-out wreck. Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire.
Second incident within a month
This fire follows a similar incident just days earlier when a 1979 Ford Ghia Probe 1 caught fire. This one-of-a-kind concept car, also worth millions, similarly burned while on a trailer in Monterey. Chris Grogan, Chief of the Monterey Fire Department, commented, “It’s unusual for this to happen twice.” However, neither fire appears suspicious, and despite the cluster of incidents, the fire department sees no cause for alarm. “It’s simply a streak of bad luck,” Grogan added.
The Hispano-Suiza J12 was more than just a car; it was a rolling work of art and a testament to past engineering prowess. This was confirmed just days earlier by the strict jury of the classic car competition. The burned-out specimen belonged to Hong Kong billionaire Michael Kadoorie and had just won second place in its class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – a final triumph before its tragic end.
