In the late 1970s I had a red Scimitar GT Coupe. It was a 1967 model with the 3 litre Ford V6. It too caught fire and burned out as I was towing a three wheeler Morgan up the M1 to a restorer in a cold snowy February. Luckily I was able to detach the trailer and push it back some yards down the hard shoulder to safety.
The usual cause was for the metal petrol union to become detached from the carb due to the under bonnet heat, but I think that mine ignited because of exhaust gasses escaping from where the manifold met the downpipe. Anyway it was a scary experience.
