Stolen Aston Martin found after 14 years.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

There's nothing new about car theft, and thieves don't just steal modern cars - classic cars are just as vulnerable, especially if you leave them in your garden.  This is what happened fourteen years ago to an ex-Le mans  1949 Aston Martin works racer.

It was owned by Christopher Angell - a leading light in the Aston Martin Owners' Club - and after buying the car in 1965 he wanted to preserve this old racer with two Le Mans finishes and a win at SPA 24 hours under its belt.  In 1971 he drove it in the Le Mans demonstration parade before the race .
Shortly after this, Mr. Angell's health deteriorated and the car was laid up in his Hertforshire garden with the intention of  a full restoration "some day...".  It never happened because the  car was stolen from that garden in 2002.
"Christopher was devastated by the theft of his car and just before he died in 2003 he was still asking 'has that nice policeman got my car yet?' "
Bert Anton Visser, 64, and Heerke Jan Visser, 53, were convicted in 2003 of stealing the car,  and were released on bail by a judge at the time but failed to return for their sentencing or to hand over the car . 
Early in 2016, Detective Sergeant Jo Goodson, from Hertfordshire Police, received intelligence from solicitors it was used as a surety for a loan. Officers travelled to seize the vehicle in April this year from a storage facility in Holland.  

“It was extremely satisfying. It was quite emotional because it’s a lovely car with an exceptional history,” she said.
Both men remain at large and are still being sought by police.

You can read the whole story of the car's history in Bonhams' catalogue HERE and also learn more about the radio pioneer who became a BBC war correspondent and then head of BBC Outside Broadcasts.
An extraordinary man and an extraordinary car.

 

Text Robin Batchelor, pictures courtesy Bonhams.

Plaats een reactie...