I WAS DRIVING THE LINCOLN TOWN CAR WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL WHAT APPEARED TO BE GAS OR SOME FLUID COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. I STOPPED THE CAR AND PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY AND INSPECTED THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WHERE THERE WAS NO LEAK BUT A STRONG ODOR OF GAS OR SOME FLUID. I THEN STARTED THE CAR AND PUT INTO REVERSE AND WITH MY FOOT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE BACKING UP IN REVERSE THERE WAS A LOUD POP IN THE ENGINE AND THE CAR SHUT OFF FOLLOWED BY SMOKE AND THEN FIRE. THE CAR THEN SET ON FIRE AND BURNED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRE FIGHTERS ARRIVED TO PUT THE CAR OUT. IT WAS TOTALED. *TR