Fire destroys man’s beloved kit car

It was a 1964 Volkswagen that looked British because of its MG kit.

When it caught fire about 11:30 a.m. Monday at Hazel Dell Avenue and 99th Street, owner Robert Howell knew the end was near.

“I’ve had that car since 1978 and I’ve got a lot of good out of it,” said Howell, 78, of Hazel Dell.

Howell, who was driving the car, said the MG had sentimental value.

“I had an MG TD in the Navy,” said the retired personnel manager for Boeing in Portland.

He said he bought a kit and converted the Volkswagen himself.

What caused the fire?

Howell said he had just put on a electric fuel pump and, “I must not have gotten one of the hose connections tight.”

He said he thinks the car might have been worth $18,000.

“I will salvage a lot of parts,” he said. “That car will never be on the road again as a car.”

A couple of men helped Howell push the car into a parking lot and Fire District 6 firefighters arrived soon afterwards. No one was hurt.

Howell said from now on he’ll have to get his main pleasure from his 1941 Lincoln Continental. “It’s a museum piece,” he said.