[exnavy]

I started driving in the 1960’s. The only way to get an automobile to “backfire” on que, is to intentionally turn the key off for a few seconds than back on. The vehicle needs to be in gear and moving. Cars made prior to column locks were easy. Once column locks began, it is increasingly difficult. Automatics forget it. Rarely does any vehicle manufactured since WWII backfire just driving down the street.

[Paladin2]

The whole event still sounds like a police riot to me.

[A Navy Vet]

"I started driving in the 1960’s. The only way to get an automobile to “backfire” on que, is to intentionally turn the key off for a few seconds than back on. The vehicle needs to be in gear and moving. Cars made prior to column locks were easy. Once column locks began, it is increasingly difficult. Automatics forget it. Rarely does any vehicle manufactured since WWII backfire just driving down the street.

I also grew up driving in the 60's. I remember 50's and 60's cars that often backfired through the exhaust that sounded like gun-fire. Altough, back-firing through the carb didn't produce such a loud noise; it usually did a little pop and catch fire due to bad carb adjustment or dirty jets. Mostly, explosive tailpipe backfires were caused by incorrect degrees to top-dead-center due to bad distributor alignment or worn contacts on the distributor cap or worn points or even bad plug wires...sometimes a bad coil or failing condenser. All which affect correct timing of the internal explosion.

Yes, I remember you could do the switch off and then on to get a loud backfire out of the exhaust if you're okay to blow out your muffler.

Disclaimer: I currently own a 1958 Chevy Impala and while turning the distributor cap which adjusts the cylinder combustion timing, I can get that loud gunshot like out the exhaust. It was the nature of internal combustion engines at the time before electronic timing. In fact many low-riders would retard their inition to get a rap, rap, rap sound with their exhaust glasspacks with they eased off the pedal. Of course, it was detrimental to motor.

[Sherman Logan]

Perhaps not if properly tuned.

I learned to drive on my dad’s old Dodge 60s-something van, with a three on the tree tranny. The one with the engine between the seats.

That thing backfired like crazy, sometimes with flame shooting a foot out of the tailpipe.

Never had another car that did it, but don’t tell me it can’t happen.

[Tucker39]

If it has actually backfired several times the muffler would be either blown OFF or blown OUT, resulting in a very loud exhaust. This I know from experience, having, as a juvenile delinquent intentionally backfired my old Plymouth by turning the ignition off an on (there’s a trick to it) and having to replace the blown muffler to pass state inspection.

[Dr. Sivana]

Rarely does any vehicle manufactured since WWII backfire just driving down the street.

I've had auto-transmission cars with bad/poorly-adjusted carburetors do it. When cars are 30+ years old, interesting things can happen to them.