Its not really a nice thing to share but I have shared this with you due to the fact that not many hot rods or early Fords go missing in NZ at all. Usually muscle cars and performance OE cars are stolen and parted out or shipped off sure. As I write this post tonight there is still a somewhat spooky feeling about coming across this neat old Ford coupe on the side of the road this afternoon. One thing is for sure, the hot rod network always solves problems From Paul Grace at New Zealand Hot Rod Magazine. Okay...here's some of the low-down.....just had about 20 calls to and from the Police..... Friday night the car was stolen after the perps ram raided the solid 6ft high wooden gates to Dallas Howard's private address here on the Hibiscus Coast. He was not home at the time. From what we understand they then broke into the house, gained access to the garage and opened the door from inside, rolled the coupe out and loaded it onto a trailer. (The HRM feature - Double Bangers in this months issue - those are also Dallas's cars) Saturday morning - Dallas called HRM and info immediately uploaded to the forum. Saturday and Sunday - emails circulated a****st the hot rod community to be on the lookout. 4.00pm today we recieved a call from forumite TSA...he'd seen the coupe abandoned on the Church st on ramp to the South Eastern arterial highway...Penrose - south Auckland area. His dad was standing by it.....he's called it in to Police central. HRM made calls made immediately to Orewa police etc.... 4.30 HRM's Greg Stokes is on the scene with cell ph camera by along w/Warren Fairhurst and will supervise the loading of the coupe onto a towtruck orderd by Police. It will go to a secure undercover compound tonight for finger printing and ****ysis. Greg has advised there is minor damage to the fenders etc, like its been s****ed along a wall or trailer..... <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> <o> </o> More here: http://www.nz-hotrod.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=63198#post63198 What an afternoon. I had a bunch of missed calls this afternoon whilst out and about and upon calling back I was informed about the car under an underp*** at Carbine Road. So we jumped in the car and thought we would take a look. To be honest, I really didnt expect the car to be there. TSA's Dad Peter was there and we exchanged details of what we understood then upon calling HRM HQ Paul revealled that it was Dallas' car. The penny dropped, I recalled seeing it on a visit to Dallas' garage last year. I made the decision to stay with the car until I knew it was on a trailer under Police orders. Damage to the car was RH front fender, RH running board and RH rear fender. Hood wasnt properly latched down and the cowl vent open. i didnt want to touch the car as to interfere with finger print process etc. Warren Fairhurst turned up and Mark & Gaylene Homan was with me and Rebecca. I couldnt beleive what I saw - a 75 year old car sitting on the side of the road in 2009! Officer Stevenson arrived on the scene and was brilliant to deal with and she had a real interest in the car and really liked the old car styling - WAY TO GO! She asked what damage was on the car and I pointed out that the hood was not latched properly and the ignition wires damaged as well as the cowl vent open - carpet was damp so i guess the car may have been dumped there Sat night? Who knows? Its still an unreal scenario. The officer asked me to check for any noticable engine tampering - WHOA this ****er has Edelbrock heads and an Evans twin carb intake! No damage though. First tow truck turned up - no ramp truck. So we waited another hour for a ramp truck to arrive. Again, Officer Stevenson was brilliant. Happy ending but it could have been alot worse! <!-- / message -->
Glad to hear it turned up safe & sound, hope the culprits get caught & are named & shamed for the world to see...........
wonderful news, except for the ball shacks of those involved. brazen on a friday night and ram the gates open. still nice outcome.
Sounds like they definitely got scared off and it's a damn good thing. great that so many people worked so fast on it.
The Jalopy Journal
