A VENTNOR man managed to escape from his car seconds before it became an inferno.

Giulio Giancovich was driving back home to Ventnor when he noticed smoke from the bonnet of his Saab.

WATCH: The car a Ventnor man escaped from before it was engulfed in flames.

The 72 year old pulled over in St John's Road in Wroxall, got out of his vehicle and, within seconds, it burst into flames.

Within two minutes, the automatic car became a fireball.

Drivers stopped to make sure the pensioner was clear of his car and, with surrounding residents, called the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.

Isle of Wight County Press: Giulio Giancovich was uninjured after he got out of his smoking car, which burst into flames seconds later. Photo: Jon MorenoGiulio Giancovich was uninjured after he got out of his smoking car, which burst into flames seconds later. Photo: Jon Moreno

An appliance arrived from Shanklin within minutes and snuffed out the car fire and burning grass to an adjacent garden within the space of 15 minutes.

Mr Giancovich was travelling home from Twickenham, via the Red Funnel ferry in East Cowes.

He said: "I was driving along and suddenly I started to see whisps of what I initially thought was steam coming from the bonnet.

Isle of Wight County Press: The car was a fireball within minutes. Photo: Jon Moreno The car was a fireball within minutes. Photo: Jon Moreno

"When it turned to a lot of brown smoke, I quickly pulled over and got out of the car. There were no warning signals on the dashboard.

"About 15-20 seconds later, it burst into flames. I suppose I was lucky."

Mr Giancovich was uninjured.

Isle of Wight County Press: Firefighters from Shanklin were quickly on the scene. Photo: Jon MorenoFirefighters from Shanklin were quickly on the scene. Photo: Jon Moreno

Jason Pitman, 32, of Berry Mead, Wroxall, who was driving in the opposite direction, stopped when he saw the smoke.

"I saw the smoke and my wife then told me she could see flames. I got out quickly and told the driver who had been driving the car, to move in case the car blew up or something," he said.

Traffic was disrupted for about 45 minutes.