Latest news with #vintageCar
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Beloved 1920 Rolls Royce recovered by Essex Police
A beloved vintage Rolls Royce has been returned to its owner three days after it was stolen ahead of a European 1920 Silver Ghost, valued at more than £300,000, had been secured to a trailer in the grounds of a hotel near Grays, Essex, on 26 owner, Brian Fitton, 82, was preparing to travel to Tilbury Docks and on to Helsinki in Finland. Essex Police said the car was found intact, on the Fitton thanked the public for their support in reuniting him with his "pride and joy". Mr Fitton had been preparing to take the car to Tilbury Docks ahead of the ferry trip to Helsinki, Finland. Mr Fitton said he had travelled the world in the car for the past 25 years."I was staying at a local hotel and was shocked to find my beautiful car missing the following morning," he said."The route included touring Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Estonia before returning to the UK at the end of the month."Essex police district commander Tony Atkin added: "We know how distressing it is to have your car stolen whether it's a vintage car, a van used for business or a car to do the school run."That's why we take every report seriously and work hard to recover stolen vehicles quickly." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
‘Irreplaceable' 100-year-old Rolls-Royce stolen in hotel heist
An 'irreplaceable' century-old Rolls-Royce was stolen just hours before it was due to embark on 'the trip of a lifetime'. Thieves stole the £300,000 vintage motor on Thursday night from Orsett Hall Hotel near Grays, Essex. Brian Fitton, the car's owner, 82, has been left distraught by the theft, describing it as 'appalling'. He was due to tour Finland and the Baltic States in it. Mr Fitton, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, was sleeping in his bed at the four-star hotel in the early hours of Thursday when unidentified thieves made off with his 1920 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. The retiree awoke to see the car missing from the luxury hotel's car park, hours before it was due to be loaded onto a Helsinki-bound ferry at Tilbury docks. 'It's not been the best of week's starting with a dear friend's funeral, but this trip has been something I've been looking forward to for more than a year,' he said. 'To have the vehicle stolen ahead of dropping it off at Tilbury Docks for the ferry to Helsinki is absolutely heartbreaking.' The car was due to be loaded onto a ferry at the docks with 25 other Rolls-Royces on Thursday afternoon. Mr Fitton, a retired scrapyard owner, has toured all over Europe in the vehicle, visiting France, Italy and Poland, among other countries. 'The car is full of irreplaceable parts,' he said. 'It's an original and has even got the original Lady on the grill. 'The car has been all over the world and is an advert for British motors. It's been everywhere and it gets stolen in Essex.' Mr Fitton bought the car from a British Petroleum collection in Denmark via an auction at Bonhams. He has since spent years rebuilding the engine and exhibiting it around the world. Reward offered Mr Fitton is offering a £2,000 reward for the car's safe return. 'I am hoping someone can spot the car as it's so rare and help me get the trip of a lifetime back on track – hence the reward,' he said. The 1920 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost has the registration number U 5694 and chassis number 39EE. Orsett Hall Hotel declined to comment, but said the matter was in the hands of Essex Police. Anyone with any information should contact Essex Police.
News.com.au
02-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
‘Drunk idiots' flip car with bare hands
Shocking footage of a beloved vintage car getting flipped onto its side has been shared by its shattered owner. Two men can be seen approaching a pristine 1972 Fiat 500, painted in a colourful orange, around 4am on Friday, May 2, in London, reports The Sun. As the pair stumble towards the vintage car, described by the owner as his 'pride and joy', one of them can be seen attempting to open the door. Discovering it locked, he appears to then motion to his pal to come over to try and lift it up. The pair then grab the tiny car from its side and begin lifting it at a 45 degree angle before the car's weight begins to shift further away, pulling it down towards the street. Losing control of the vintage car, the vandals step back and let go, sending the 'characterful' vehicle tumbling onto its side, slamming straight into the bitumen. As it crashes into the road, the cowards can then be seen fleeing towards the camera and away from the Fiat, which gently rocks back and forth in the middle of the street. The car remained there until later in the morning, when the heartbroken owner discovered his beloved vehicle had been vandalised. Speaking to The Sun, he said: 'I was blissfully unaware of anything untoward until I opened my front door to take my dog out for his early morning walk.' 'I couldn't believe my eyes, instead of seeing my lovely vintage orange Fiat 500 I came face-to-face with the chassis. I was totally shocked, it was a totally surreal experience.' He said the vehicle was blocking traffic on the 'narrow street', despite the car's small stature. Thankfully, some nearby builders came to his assistance to help put the car back on its four wheels. The distressed owner also told of how he 'feared for the worst' when the car was brought back upright. He said he was concerned his 'sweet little car' could have 'sustained a lot of damage'. Fortunately, upon flipping it back up, the owner discovered no broken glass, and just a broken door handle, as well as some dints and scratches on the classic vehicle. There was also a pool of oil that had formed after the fluid leaked from the motor. Venting his frustrations, he said: 'I just couldn't understand how anyone would want to vandalise such a sweet little car.' 'I still feel very emotional, it's my pride and joy.' 'People often stop to take photos my little characterful car, [but] no one has ever hurt it.' In direct response to the heartless vandals, the owner berated their cowardice, adding: 'They should pick on someone their own size.' The owner had shared the shocking footage on social media of the 'two drunk idiots', drawing in sympathy from viewers. One commented: 'What was the point of that? What did they gain from doing that except shame?' 'Running away from something you did proves you are ashamed of what you did.' Another added: 'Absolutely gutted for you, man.' 'Such a disrespectful thing to do. Hope the damage isn't too bad.' A third said: 'Hope they will be found to pay for the damage,' while a fourth added: 'That's despicable – that's someone's pride and joy.'
The Sun
01-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Shocking moment ‘idiots' tip over ‘pride & joy' vintage car – as owner says they should ‘pick on someone their own size'
THIS is the shocking moment two "drunk idiots" tipped over a prized vintage car in the middle of the night. Two men can be seen approaching the pristine 1972 Fiat 500, painted in a colourful orange, shortly before 4am on Friday, May 2, in Old Street, London. 7 7 7 As the pair stumble to the vintage motor, described by the owner as his "pride and joy", one of them can be seen attempting to open the car's door. Discovering it locked, he appears to then motion to his pal to come over to try and lift the classic car. The pair then grab the tiny motor from its side and begin lifting it until it reaches what appears to be a 45 degree angle. They hold it there temporarily before the car's weight begins to shift further away, pulling it down towards the street. Losing control of the vintage motor, the vandals step back and let go, sending the "characterful" vehicle tumbling onto its side, slamming straight into the tarmac. As it crashes into the road, the cowards can then be seen fleeing towards the camera and away from the Fiat, which gently rocks back and forth in the middle of the street. The car remained there until later in the morning, when the heartbroken owner discovered his beloved motor had been vandalised. Speaking to The Sun, he said: "I was blissfully unaware of anything untoward until I opened my front door to take my dog out for his early morning walk. "I couldn't believe my eyes, instead of seeing my lovely vintage orange Fiat 500 I came face to face with the chassis. "I was totally shocked, it was a totally surreal experience." 7 7 7 He said the vehicle was blocking traffic on the "narrow street", despite the car's small stature. Thankfully, some nearby builders came to his assistance to help put the motor back on its four wheels. The distressed owner also told of how he "feared for the worst" when the motor was brought back upright. He said he was concerned his "sweet little car" could have "sustained a lot of damage". Fortunately, upon flipping it back up, the owner discovered no broken glass, and just a broken door handle, as well as some dints and scratches on the classic vehicle. There was also a pool of oil that had formed after the fluid leaked from the motor. Venting his frustrations, he said: "I just couldn't understand how anyone would want to vandalise such a sweet little car. "I still feel very emotional, it's my pride and joy. "People often stop to take photos my little characterful car, [but] no one has ever hurt it." 'DESPICABLE' AND 'DISGUSTING' VANDALISM In direct response to the heartless vandals, the owner berated their cowardice, adding: "They should pick on someone their own size". The owner had shared the shocking footage on social media of the "two drunk idiots", drawing in sympathy from viewers. One commented: "What was the point of that? What did they gain from doing that except shame? "Running away from something you did proves you are ashamed of what you did." Another added: "Absolutely gutted for you, man. "Such a disrespectful thing to do. Hope the damage isn't too bad." A third said: "Hope they will be found to pay for the damage," while a fourth added: "That's despicable - that's someone's pride and joy". Echoing other comments, one user slammed the "disgusting" behaviour of the vandals, adding: "What's wrong with people?"
CBC
29-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Solving a Lake Minnewanka mystery
The Calgary Eyeopener talks to scuba diver Alan Keller about the recent discovery of a vintage car beneath the waters of Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park
