A rare £100,000 classic car was stolen from a Chelsea garage on Christmas Eve – now detectives are appealing for witnesses.
The classic blue convertible Austin Healey was built in 1955 and was given to the owner two years ago as a 50th birthday present from his wife. He spent 18 months restoring it.
It was parked there at 2pm, and later that evening the owner found his garage had been forced open and the car taken.
The owner Pascal Maeter said: “When I was given this car it had not been used for 40 years.
“It looked good from 20 metres, but when you got up close you saw that it needed a great deal of work.
“It took me many months to get it back to being a beautiful and working machine.
“I really hope the public can help; it was not just an ordinary car to me!
“This was a much-loved gift, one of a special production and restoring it was a labour of love.”
Detective Constable Joe de Vere of Kensington & Chelsea police said: “The car is very distinctive and extremely rare.
“This is the sort of car that people would notice and for that reason it has probably been stored off-road, but it will need to be moved eventually.
“I would ask the public to remember what it looks like and call police if they see it.”
Anyone who has any information about the whereabouts of the vehicle should contact Kensington and Chelsea police on 020 8246 0231.
Please quote reference number 5621651/14, or if the vehicle is seen, call 999.
