InTune Motorsport: Fire destroys rare Ford Mustangs, GT-40 in ’tragedy of epic proportions’
They’re among the fastest cars in the world, but not even a turbo-powered Mustang could escape a factory fire in Sydney’s west overnight that destroyed millions of dollars in rare vehicles in what’s been described as a ‘tragedy’ for diehard enthusiasts.
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Millions of dollars worth of rare and high-performance cars including Ford Mustangs and a GT-40 have been destroyed after fire swept through garage in Sydney’s west in what’s been described as a “tragedy” for car enthusiasts.
Fire crews were called to the InTune Motorsport factory in Seven Hills around 5am on Wednesday.
The factory specialises in fitting-out late model rare Ford Falcon and Mustang vehicles.
More than 30 firefighters worked for two hours to douse the blaze, which created huge plumes of smoke and sent flames shooting through the roof.
Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Luke Unsworth said crews were concerned the fire could spread to adjoining properties.
“At the time of arrival, flames were going through the roof and we had significant concerns for the factory units on either side,” he said.
The fire was extinguished about 7am, but the vehicles inside could not be saved.
All six cars inside including Ford Mustangs and a powerful Ford GT-40 worth millions of dollars, were destroyed.
Car expert John Cadogan said the blaze was a “tragedy of epic proportions” for old-school car enthusiasts across the nation.
“They’d be classics because they’re not making them anymore. Those kinds of cars are hugely aspirational and their scarcity makes them valuable.”
He said some models such as the 1968 GT-40 is worth upwards of $20 million and would be even pricier here.
“Carol Shelby built special Mustangs with even more power than the conventional ones in the 60s and they’re extremely prized collectors items like rare works of art.”
He says the Ford brand has a cult following in Australia dating back to this period when the car was first shipped over to Australia.
“The brand was propped up by racing legends Dick Johnson and Rick Moffett with their various victories at Bathurst. Let’s not forget the car Mad Max drove initially was a supercharged Falcon. There’s a lot of cultural attachment,” he said.
NSW Fire and Rescue are investigating the cause of the fire.