Owner devastated after prized classic car worth £25k stolen from garage

A vintage Ford car valued at up to £25,000 has been stolen from a South London garage, leaving the owner "lost".

The theft occurred around 10am on September 12 when two men were spotted driving a white Ford Transit flatbed truck into a road by Copers Cope Road in Beckenham. Graham, 50, the owner of the car told how a nearby resident told him of the theft.

"I got a phone call from a person that lives nearby and she said there's two guys with a white ford transit flatbed just opened up the garage, loaded the car onto it, and away they went," he said. He detailed how the culprits used angle grinders to slice through the locks, managing to pinch the classic motor right from under his nose, just yards from his front door in Bromley.

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The stolen vehicle, a 1955 Ford Zodiac, was a labour of love for Graham who had owned it for a decade, pouring approximately £18,000 into modifications and restorations. While it's tough for him to estimate, Graham believes the car's current value is somewhere between £22,000 and £25,000.

Reflecting on the loss, Graham expressed his sorrow: "It's part of your life. It's a big gap that's gone out of it. I'd work all week, and spend the weekend messing about with the car, take the car out, do bits on the car.", reports MyLondon.

Graham also noted the car's distinctive appearance, saying, "It does stick out a lot, it's not your average-looking car," and pointed out the difficulty the thieves would have in selling such a recognisable ride: "It's very recognisable. The issue is, it's not the sort of car someone could sell on or even use, because it's so distinct."

Graham fears that the thieves may either attempt to ship it abroad or dismantle it for parts. If the car is recovered, "it would be like being reunited", Graham expressed, "it's part of the family sort of thing."

The Metropolitan Police corroborated Graham's account to MyLondon and stated that investigations are underway to locate the stolen vehicle. They urge anyone who witnessed the theft or has any information about the car's location to contact them on 101, quoting reference 01/831876/24.