Stolen Mk1 Estate - West Midlands

[PHUQ]

Check the local scrappies too, in case it's pikies and they've weighed it in. I've known it happen before, chap had done a load of work on an old golf, had it up to a rolling shell. Came home and it was on the back of a tipper, he had to physically block them in to stop them taking it away.

That beavertail is fairly unusual in it's an older merc as opposed to the usual transit, someone must recognise it, especially with a logo on the door. Probably worth a countryside drive to see if the van is parked up with a bunch a caravans somewhere. Also ask the local garages, scrappies etc to see if they recognise it.

[gary]

Very sad when these thing happen,I would be gutted if it happened to me,when my car hits the road I will keep this in mind.
Also as already stated that merc transporter isn't exactly a common site,surely someone must know where it came from,mind you the car is only someone's pride and joy,why would the authorities bother to look into it.
A real shame and I like many of you,feel for the owner.
Gary

[Marinanut]

As I was told on another forum, pikeys would have HIAB'd it and run - this is a 'professional' lift by someone who desperately needs the car for racing. Check on http://www.thedd.co.uk/previews.htm to see what is on in the next couple of months...

[Marinanut]

Posted up on Ovalchat, there's already a lynch mob forming for them.......

[Greg Whitaker]

Another estate lost – very sad.

Just goes to show that whatever you drive, someone might have an eye on it.

[PHUQ]

Assuming nothing was ever heard on this?

I've just remembered that one of Practical Classic's staff writers had a big Ford stolen (Granada IIRC) that was banger raced. He did manage to find a few contacts in the banger racing community that were prepared to testify against the thieves but sadly by then the car had been destroyed. Might be worth finding out which staff writer it was and trying to get in touch- unlikely it's the same thieves, but you never know, and he might offer some help for finding it.

Think I need some better security for my car, these estates are getting rarer :|

[TheNostalgiaBRIT]

I live in Loughborough in the East Midlands and when one of the windows was smashed on my Marina before I could safely garage it the local police warned me about this.

Apparently there is a spate of this going on in the Midlands, traveller/gypo types will drive around with a transporter looking for cars that look a bit older/maybe abandoned (you know MK2 Fiestas, Cavaliers and the sort) to sell for scrap. They quickly whip it on the truck and because its an older car if anybody asks what they are up to they give some guff about how its been reported abandoned and they are here from council etc...

Average passer by will look at car and go OK! Off drives scroat with your older but loved metal and he happily pockets the scrap money

I am so relieved I have my MK2 in a garage now as this really worried me, I am often away for whole weeks for work and I half expected to come back and see an empty spot in the street!

[wedgeprincess]

Just done my weekly check on Flickr to see what new pics there are and came accross this....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mookie427/4827962862/

[Number 63]

Looks really solid.

[James1300]

Are you sure thats the car that was stolen? Is there anyway you can find out which banger racing circuit it belongs to and get these people locked up? (If only things were that simple)

[locost_bryan]

Just done my weekly check on Flickr to see what new pics there are and came accross this....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mookie427/4827962862/

Googled "110 Derek Tyler - Morris Marina ". The guy gets mentioned under Standlake, but with a Cavalier back in Jan 2010.

[wedgeprincess]

No i'm not saying the pic i found is the stolen one at all - i always check filckr for any interesting new pics car related and given what we thought may have happened to this car just thought it was relevant to the thread. The majority of banger racers pay good money for their cars its just a shame when solid ones get destroyed but at the end of the day if they've paid for it can we argue what they do with it? :-(

Incidentally i have purchased some useful spares over the years from banger racers - they never want the trim etc.

[gary]

That looks like a very solid car,look at the front wings even though they are battered they have been solid before,also the front lower valance and headlamp panels look solid ,what a shame to see such a nice car being trashed.
Gary

[d13ker67]

There is a classic car banger meet at Eastbourne saturday night i am going to i have heard there are some marinas being raced. I will have a look there.

[ScreamingLordStokes]

Aye the estate on Flikr looks as if it wasn't too bad before it was raced, also check out the pre Farina Morris Oxford and the green Triumph Dolomite. The Dolly looks really solid, the boot lid and rear bumper look imaculate, crikey its a shame. Someone's got to recognise that Merc beavertail there ain't many of those around these days.