Photos as 1979 Pontiac Firebird ‘bursts in flames’ at Tesco

The American muscle car caught fire on the morning of Saturday, May 30, after the driver attempted to start the ignition.

This was at the Abingdon Tesco petrol station, off Marcham Road, and the driver suffered some burns and received immediate first aid at the superstore.

READ MORE: United States tourist battles fire at Oxfordshire Tesco petrol station

The Pontiac Firebird is a Trans Am car which is a coupe or convertible with a “sporty” or performance-oriented image based on vehicles raced in the Sports Car Club of America Trans-AM Series.

American tourist Darren Fleming, 61, and his British uncle Alan Mutton, 74, were admiring it when the incident occurred.

The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am car suffered significant damage in the incident at the Abingdon Tesco (Image: Darren Fleming)

“We were admiring it because it is an American car,” said Mr Fleming, “and when the young man driving started it, it just burst into flames”.

They subsequently worked to extinguish the flames with another member of the public wearing out a number of fire extinguishers as they did so.

READ MORE: LIVE: Emergency crews race to reported fire at Oxfordshire Tesco petrol station

Multiple fire crews, an ambulance and police would eventually turn up at the scene, although after the fire had been put out by the three men.

The uncle and nephew had stopped off at the petrol station that morning as Mr Mutton is taking Mr Fleming and his wife to the Chiltern Hills and Henley for a visit.

Mr Fleming said: “We started out this morning quite exciting; it got a couple of old guys’ blood flowing.”