The VW Beetle explodes as soon as the trail of fire reaches the front bumper/hood. The engine and all combustible parts are in the rear of the vehicle, so it would not have exploded as quickly.
This episode purports to have Kevin Garvey Sr. in the Australian 'outback'. States comprising outback Australia include Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia or Queensland. In the scene with the Toyota Ambulance, the vehicle is seen to be registered in Victoria [PUU 712] when Garvey Snr. is ejected from the back door.