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BURNT OUT: Mr Dodge with his burnt out classic. JOHN BISSET/Timaru Herald

Lamborghini goes up in flames 

Drama unfolded on the road just north of Temuka on Friday when a rare Lamborghini caught fire and the driver had to pull his disabled wife from the flame-engulfed interior.

Mike and Fran Dodge of Christchurch were going to a car rally in Cromwell in their $50,000 Lamborghini Urraco - the only one of its type on the road and one of only three in the country - when it lost power. 

"I looked in the rear vision mirror and saw flames (the engine is mounted within the car). I pulled straight over but by the time I opened the door and got out there was a huge fireball in the back of the car." 

Mr Dodge had real reason for concern as his wife uses a wheelchair and couldn't get out herself. 

"I ran to the passenger's door and pulled Fran out. She was in a real panic as she thought the car was going to explode, but I said that sort of thing only happens in the movies." 

Both were shaken up but unhurt, although the car is likely to be written off. 

To lose such a rare car is bad enough, made worse in this instance as Mr Dodge had a potential buyer for it and had considered not attending the rally. The cause of the fire is unknown. 

The 1970s Urraco is a 2.5l v8, the smallest Lamborghini made.

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