John Berryman wrote:
Magnesium is another story.
VW Beetles used magnesium alloy crankcases and transmission housings. (Some of these were later switched to aluminum for strength reasons -- magnesium is light, but also soft.) If an engine fire really gets going I'm told it can be quite a show. I've seen a few pictures of burned Beetles where there was very little left. The gas tank on a Beetle will gravity-feed if it's over half full, further improving the chances of a big conflagration.
