35 years ago they stole my Dino

I want it back!

 

Well, that's one of the better posts I've seen for a person's post #666.

Do you remember the VIN?

Maybe it is sitting in someone's garage after changing hands several times and they never knew it was reported stolen?

Here is a screen snapshot of your post #666 (the post number on all posts will change on your next post).
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the devil is in the details!
Sometime ago personal files were destroyed in a small basement fire and subsequent water deluge. I did not find till later that this info was missing. Synchro's post on part numbers made me think that something might be traceable...but not holding my breath.
It was a UK car and I attempting to get info from the insurance company and the UK DMV.

 

Hope its not mine.

 

Who exactly are "they"?

If it's been 35 years and the car changed hands and was legally registered a few times, I think you'll have great difficulty convincing anyone to give it back.

 

plus if insurance paid you then if found they would have title...

 

If there is a police report from back then with a matching VIN, the I'm pretty sure the current owner doesn't have a choice - the car will be impounded and returned to the rightful historical owner with no compensation paid to the current owner.

This is why you never want to buy stolen property.

 

Just tell them it is over 35 years old, off-brand Italian car with a small V6 engine in it that produces under 200 hp. Not the kind of car an insurance company would like to get involved in.

 

They are individuals who stole it from a hotel parking lot in Milan! And.... The Italian police!
I wrote a report on this for the insurance company, it went something like this.

At 6.00am I heard it start, ran to the parking are to see it gone. ran back inside called the police, who told they could do nothing until a formal report had been signed.
"you have to come in and sign a formal report"
when I got there they asked me where the stamped form was.
"Stamped form"? Said I, "What stamped form"!
"You get it from the tobacconist".
"What! I have to leave here find a tobacconist, buy a form and come back to you"?
"Yes that's the way it works"!
"Thats crazy"!
"Oh and I suppose they do better in London"!
"Yes they bloody well do! By now, the licence number would be circulating to all and sundry"!
"England is an island. Italy is not, we are two hours from three borders. By now your car is in a shop getting chopped up, in a van being driven to a port. It could already be in France or Switzerland! The sooner you get me that form the sooner we can list it as missing. Dont' hold out much hope though. A little while ago 36 German business men came to a convention in 28 Mercedes. they all had to fly home"

By the time I picked up the form and filled out the paperwork it was 9.0am, plenty of time for that car to dissappear.

with it went 6 new tailored suits, Morano glass and a priceless collection of taped music!

 

That was 1975, dignini? You are lucky to have had a Dino then. And in Italy. But I am sorry you lost the car.

Civil law (Italy and most of Europe) and common law (UK, the US) have different rules on ownership of stolen property. In some jurisdictions, the original owner can always recover. The current issue of Sports Car Market has an article on a stolen Ferrari.

 

Thanks for the link, I really do not believe that the car will be found or that I will ever see it again. still it is an unfinished chapter for me.
Yes I was very fortunate, I knew the car from new, it was bought by a friend of mine and I lusted after it until one day he had had enough of my badgering and accepted 6500 pounds for it, It had cost him far less so he was happy! I have attached the only image taken overlooking Monte Carlo.It is the only one I have left. From there we drove down to Firenze, then back up to Venice and from there to Milan where it was stolen. I have contacted the insurance company to see if they still have the file somewhere and can return the photographs and any documentation I might have gave them at the time.
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Fabulous shot, dignini. Though the quality of our old fading snapshots and slides leaves a lot to be desired, they are still priceless recollections of wonderful times. The patina just adds to the nostalgia. (I suppose they could be digitally enhanced, just to see the 'details.')
Oh well, I hope the insurance company can send copies, or the originals, from their archives. Please share more of these gems.
Cheers,
Coop

Post Script:
Is this one and the same?
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ok.... I'm confused. In the photo in the above post, the car is blue... but in this post:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=140021413&postcount=23

You say the red car is yours...

Did you have two Dinos?

Mike

 

first the blue, then a black which turned to red

 

No not the same

The first, the blue in the Scenic shot is the one that was stolen.

the second has had a more colorful life, originally Black, I had it painted red in 85, the black was impossible to keep clean and looked terrible dusty. More recently the red was stripped to bare metal and painted the Bleu Chiaro you see in the other picchers. I always liked yellow..though!

 

Beautiful photo, dignini, and very evocative. How old were you then, if I may ask? Andres

 

if memory serves me well, 26

 

Thanks. i just wanted to put the scene in perspective. As I said, you were a lucky guy. Ciao, Andres

 

Got it...now I understand... thank you!

Mike

 

I came across this the other day
a few have asked chassis number, I do not have it
the registration was and English registration
LYH 131K
I am trying to see if the registration records are still available in the UK
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The Dino was probably the easiest to steal of any car ever made.

I broke my key in the ignition once on a date. I reached behind the key, pulled off a wire, touched it to another wire and the car started. All in about 10 seconds and without a flashlight in the dark or prior knowledge other than seeing it done in movies.

To get into a Dino, just press open the fly window and undo the latch. I'm in shock more weren't stolen in those days.

 

Can you please confirm the outside colour. It looks like azzuro blue. Presumably it was still the original colour.

What colour was the interior ? Leather or vinyl ?

Can you remember the name of the chap you got it from ?

Could it have had a UK Personalised Registration Plate before your ownership ?

Did the steering wheel have holes in the spokes or not ?

Please confirm it was 1975 and can you say which month ?

Mark Shannon

 

If we assume the registration number was the original, it was certainly issued between 1st August 1971 and 31st July 1972 and very likely in Central London.

Mark

 

Had an on/off switch by the dinoplex. Trunk was full to the brim and i was tired so i did not thriw the switch......not that it would have deterred prifessionals.......

 

Azzurro/ black vinyl
Grant Gibson, friend and, British 125cc motorcycle racing Champion
No that's the number originally issued
Cannot remember steering wheel. I changed it to Wood.
September/milan/italy

Did you find it?