Car mysteriously dies - second time

[thorsen]

Last night, my 1972 250C left me stranded for the second time last night. Driving down the road, the engine gradually lost power until it would not even idle. I made it to the shoulder and the car would start for just a second, then die out. Eventually, it would not even start.

I pulled the lead from the coil to the cap and it sparked to ground, and I operated the accelerator linkage and gas pumped from the acceleration jets. My initial thought was vapor-lock, but I don't think the pump jets would work if that was the case. Stumped, I called AAA and waited.

I left the hazard lights on for the 45 minutes it took to get back home, but when I made it the battery was completely flat, as in the engine would not turn over.

The first time it happened, I attributed it to a low-fuel condition and made sure to keep the tank full. Last night I had 3/4 of a tank and I could hear the (after-market) fuel pump running, so I am 99% sure that is not the problem.

Could an almost-dead battery not provide enough juice to run the ignition system? That is really the most liekly thing I can think of at this point. Obviously I will be picking up a new battery tonight.