Corvettes Bursting into Flames

[iteachflyin]

On another forum there was upsetting news about a couple of unfortunate forum members who lost their lives in recent and separate C5 accidents. In both cases, it seems that the drivers were trapped in their vehicles and died when their Vettes burst into flames.
It has been only within the past several years that the spontaneous fire issue related to the Crown Victoria police cars came to light. That issue was related to rear-end collisions rupturing the fuel tanks and causing the fires. The fix was relatively simple, a shield of some sort to prevent fuel from splashing.
The question is ... are there ongoing issues with regard to fires in C5 accidents that I am unaware of? If so, are there suggested fixes that have simply not been implemented? Or are these just a couple of accidents that unusually resulted in significant and fatal vehicle fires.

 

[Patrick]

Wow, Corvette fires. I have to admit, I am unaware of any particular incidents on this which would make it a public policy concern. I would have to read the specifics of the incidents where the cars erupted in flames- were these as a result of an accident? What happened in the accident? Where was the Corvette hit? Was it upended or otherwise landed upside down?

-Patrick

 

[GreyGhost]

It happened to me

I don't remember much about it but I was in an accident with my '94 vette. The gas tank burst open and I was trapped in the car soaked with gasolene. I remember that it was hard to breathe. I'm happy to say that no fire eruppted. It would only have taken a spark. I love fiberglass cars (no sparks). I wonder what happened to those two cars in this article.??

 

[iteachflyin]

Unfortunately one of the local guys died today in his vette, terrible accident. We believe one of his tires let loose and he hit a telephone pole, his car burst into flames, they couldn't get him out of it......

I couldn't find the other reference to the second fire but it was there on the CF forum somewhere ...

I don't want to make this into an issue if there isn't one. I just thought that perhaps there was something I didn't know about a fire danger related to my C5. I am a very new owner with very little Vette background.

 

[jrose7004]

I've not heard anything about this problem but if there is a problem I'd like to hear about it!

 

[MsSchroder]

I had not heard of this either, but I'll be on the lookout.


Tammy

 

[c5vetter]

sounds like total BS to me! like an urban legend that can't find a home!

 

[wishuwerehere82]

While I was doing my rear brakes, I noticed a round flange on the front of the wheel well that had a rubber hose and a wire harness going to it. It seems like it is part of the fuel cell or fuel pump assembly. It seems possible the that if a rear end collision resulted in the wheel being mashed forward, that the hose and wires would be sheared off which could be a possible point of ignition.

 

[vettepilot]

I haven't heard of any cases of a Vette just burning up without suffering an accident sequence that either totaled the car, or killed the occupant(s) on impact. Most Vette accidents are not lowspeed fender benders but very high speed impacts, usually the result of leaving the highway.
I was hit in the rear end of my 1993 in Jan 94, ripped the whole rear tub off the car, nothing left but the gas tank sitting on the frame. No fire, or fuel leakage at all. These late model Corvettes are pretty safe sports cars, probably safer than many others that most think are safe vehicles, just cause they can't go fast.

vettepilot

 

[primeratec5]

I just found a 56 vet in a barn with 1400 miles on it ------------owner died and wife left it there----------course not, but we all have heard these stories--------now we have doom and gloom from a fire hazard--get real guys, these Vets are as safe as GM can make them and, in spite of that, some idiot goes too fast at the wrong time and lights it up, and now we have a safety issue.................all new vette purchasers should have to go to a drivers school and we would not have these threads.

 

[iteachflyin]

I haven't heard of any cases of a Vette just burning up without suffering an accident sequence that either totaled the car, or killed the occupant(s) on impact. Most Vette accidents are not lowspeed fender benders but very high speed impacts, usually the result of leaving the highway.
I was hit in the rear end of my 1993 in Jan 94, ripped the whole rear tub off the car, nothing left but the gas tank sitting on the frame. No fire, or fuel leakage at all. These late model Corvettes are pretty safe sports cars, probably safer than many others that most think are safe vehicles, just cause they can't go fast.

vettepilot

I think the accident I cited was very severe. Btw Vettepilot, do you fly just Corvettes or airplanes too? I'm curious because I fly, in fact, I just received my vanity plate that is similar to your sign-on, AV8RVETT.

 

[iteachflyin]

I just found a 56 vet in a barn with 1400 miles on it ------------owner died and wife left it there----------course not, but we all have heard these stories--------now we have doom and gloom from a fire hazard--get real guys, these Vets are as safe as GM can make them and, in spite of that, some idiot goes too fast at the wrong time and lights it up, and now we have a safety issue.................all new vette purchasers should have to go to a drivers school and we would not have these threads.

I think you're right about the issue probably being related to very high speed crashes. But I'm really not trying to create an issue where one doesn't exist. I simply wanted to know if everyone but me knew about a fire related issue and now I'm convinced from all of these posts that one likely does not exist. I appreciate all the input, as I said I'm as green it gets when it comes to Vettes.

 

['04 Torch Red]

Crash

I think you're right about the issue probably being related to very high speed crashes. But I'm really not trying to create an issue where one doesn't exist. I simply wanted to know if everyone but me knew about a fire related issue and now I'm convinced from all of these posts that one likely does not exist. I appreciate all the input, as I said I'm as green it gets when it comes to Vettes.

Heres the first crash/fireball....:cry

 

[vettepilot]

I think the accident I cited was very severe. Btw Vettepilot, do you fly just Corvettes or airplanes too? I'm curious because I fly, in fact, I just received my vanity plate that is similar to your sign-on, AV8RVETT.

I'm a retired Army Aviator. I actually came up with the screen name vettepilot back in 1991 when I opened my first e-mail account. I wanted something unusual at the time, so being a pilot and owning my first Vette, (1991 coupe) it seemed natural. I have used it ever since. Do you have a civilian or military rating?

vettepilot

 

['04 Torch Red]

Heres the first crash/fireball....
CorvetteForum News.....
Tweakd is no long with us.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unfortunately one of the local guys died today in his vette, terrible accident. We believe one of his tires let loose and he hit a telephone pole, his car burst into flames, they couldn't get him out of it.

RIP Rob, we'll miss you man.

http://www.dfwstangs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=229567

His car:
http://www.bonestockracing.com/belluomini.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last edited by 5.0_CJ : 03-11-2005 at 02:31 AM.

 

[iteachflyin]

I'm a retired Army Aviator. I actually came up with the screen name vettepilot back in 1991 when I opened my first e-mail account. I wanted something unusual at the time, so being a pilot and owning my first Vette, (1991 coupe) it seemed natural. I have used it ever since. Do you have a civilian or military rating?

vettepilot

Civilian, but I fly for the Civil Air Patrol, USAF Aux, as well. Teach fixed-wing at a flight school on Saturdays. You still flying?

 

[avacorvette]

Mustang post ????

Me things this could be a rival company post to bad mouth Vetts so people would be skeerd to purchase.

 

[BigMike5]

Corvette and flames

Never heard of this as a problem before. But didn't Jr.'s C5-R burst into flames when he had that crash a month or two ago? Don't know what happened there.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Yes, Dale Jr.'s fuel cell was impaled by debris from the left rear suspension after hitting the wall. All 3 race drivers modified their fuel cells to guard against that in the future. It was thought that the high Ethanol content in the fuel caused a degradation in the fuel lines and tank assembly.

 

[GreyGhost]

Jr's Crash

Yes, I watched that on TV. He was just in warmups and lost control. He spun and burned. It took a while to get him out. Jr was burned and ended up in the hospital. I'm sure that they made some changes to the vettes after that.