Burn Baby Burn

[Swifster]

If ya look at that little porsche he's done. Possibly by the time the firemen arrived the car was already fully engulfed, or at the point where it is now with only tires burning . With that in mind it could be possible they decided to just let it take its course. I've heard of the firemen around here doing the same with a house. they arrive its fully engulfed, about to self demo itself. They find out no ones in it and let it burn instead of wasting resources on a lost cause

But you have to put it out sometime... It's not like they explode (that's just TV stuff). They must be paid by the hour.

[TurboKitty]

Targa Shmarga......... still just a euro speedbump for my Ram

sorry I couldn't resist havin some fun with ya Hope ya ain't mad

no, not mad lol. You do know that your Ram also has some European influence in it, right? Well, depending on the model year it may have, lol.

[Swifster]

With Mercedes-Benz owning Chrysler Corp from 1998 until 2008, there was a lot of cross pollination between the M-B vehicles and Chryco stuff. Cars such as the Crossfire, 300, Magnum, Charger and Grand Cherokee have a lot of Mercedes content. The Crossfire was a rebodied SLK350. All use the German transmission. Very possible the newer Ram trucks have that transmission. I can't see too much else in the trucks. The new 2011 Grand Cherokee still has a lot of M-B ML320 in it.

By the way, the '74 Porsche 911 Targa I looked at wasn't damaged nearly the way the one in the above photos is. Leaking fuel lines and superficial scorching.

Edited August 8, 2010 by Swifster

[Swifster]

Swifster, so I take it the one you looked at ain't totaled???? Dang gotta try harder next time

Nope, no total loss. But it does need paint and new plastic fuel lines...

[TurboKitty]

yep, that and while not German, Chrysler has used various Mitsubishi engines and parts in several of their cars over the years. The newer Chrysler cars are getting better reviews because of the fact that they have more of a European influence (via tuning, parts, etc) lol. More Euro content = better car (seriously it's true, American cars that are genuinely American built can not hold a candle to a European car in terms of quality, materials, and refinement. I don't like the way that sounds either, but we would have much better cars here if we got the Euro versions of a lot of cars instead of the watered down ones that we normally get. Ford's finally getting the hint since they brought over the Fiesta, and the next Focus will be a *Real* world car, I can't wait lol. I also am eager to see what Chrysler will bring out once their merger with Fiat is in full swing, around 2012 and 2013. There will be a lot of new products that look promising!

[Jon Cole]

That is where the power moonroof used to be.

Correct you are. From that angle, the hole looked oval and off centered.

[Swifster]

plastic fuel lines on such a high priced car.......STUPID. Typical greedy corporate cost cutting (some things really are universal ain't they )

Well, for 1974, I think it was innovative. The car has Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection. The lines really weren't the problem, but they melted with the fire. It looks like whoever replaced the fuel filter didn't tighten the clamp on the fuel line to the injector pump. Fortunately, the fire was put out before the lines melted completely.

By the way, don't give the Germans too much credit Michelle. The 5-speed automatics in the Charger and 300 are kind of crappy, and you can't keep ball joints in them for more than 25K. This is what happens when a parent company doesn't invest in the product. As a big Mopar guy, I'm glad that Chrysler has the ability to by their way out of Fiat if they desire to do so. It's like starting all over again in 1980. I can't wait until the revemped Avenger and Chrysler 200C (Sebring) are out this fall.

Edited August 9, 2010 by Swifster

[Jim Gibbons]

Well, for 1974, I think it was innovative. The car has Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection. The lines really weren't the problem, but they melted with the fire. It looks like whoever replaced the fuel filter didn't tighten the clamp on the fuel line to the injector pump. Fortunately, the fire was put out before the lines melted completely.

It was pretty innovative, but they had their quirks. A good friend of mine had a new Porsche 914 2.0, and he had a fire extinguisher mounted just in case. My father had a '73 Volvo 144 (the car I learned to drive on) which had a similar D-Jetronic system. The fuel lines were a fabric coated synthetic rubber hosing, and after a relatively brief time after he bought it new, the lines would ooze a bit. I guess engine heat would degrade the lines, and after turning the engine off, capillary action would dampen the ends of them. At the same time, he had a 1965 Mercedes 190D with mechanical fuel injection. MB used metal fuel lines in the earlier days (starting with the 300SLR racing cars and the 300SL gullwing and roadster,) which were used into the late 60's I believe, until the electronic Bosch systems became available and required the flexible lines. It's amazing that more '70s imports didn't got up in flames!

[Swifster]

I think it speaks volumes of the trucking industry when most injector lines are steel.

[Jim Gibbons]

I think it speaks volumes of the trucking industry when most injector lines are steel.

Absolutely; trucks need that sort of longevity, where cars have that "planned obsolescence" mentality. That MB 190D was a car that was designed for the long run; the one my dad had was basically what they used for taxis in Europe. Rubber floor mats, etc. and a good car all around, other that being slower than cold molasses. The one task I sort of dreaded, yet enjoyed, was when my dad would have me help him bleed the injectors and pump annually. I was always the one under the car! The enjoyment part was my dad teaching me things which I carried over for the rest of my life. I learned back then what quality engineering and design was all about.