A screenshot from a video submitted to KABC-7 Los Angeles by R.G. Lowell, shows a classic C1 Corvette engulfed in wicked flames.

This is not the way one wants to be the talk of the neighborhood. On Sunday morning, this red and white vintage Chevrolet C1 Corvette roadster mysteriously caught fire while parked curbside in front of a residential home in the 17000 block of West Magnolia in Encino, California.

KABC-7 in Los Angeles received video from viewer R.G. Lowell, who shared the video to its social media feeds. All bystanders could do was stand back and witness the tragedy, wonder why and how this happened, and where the owner was during the outburst.

Although there have been no reports of how the fire started, we might assume it was perhaps related to an electrical issue under the hood due to the location of the flames and proximity of oil and other flammable engine fluids.

The way we were…

Prior to the Los Angeles Fire Department arriving on the scene, the video shows an engine bay and cockpit completely engulfed in flames reaching for the treetops above with black smoke exiting the wheelwells, and loud pops as metal, rubber, and other components begin to melt and disintegrate.

Luckily, no one was hurt in the fire. The blaze obviously has caused severe damage to this gorgeous ‘Vette and will require significant restoration, if not beyond repair.

ABC7 car specialist Dave Kunz said the Corvette appeared to be a model year between 1958 and 1962, (Note from Editor – this is a 1961 Corvette.)

Go here for a great link to car fire extinguishers.