Prized Torana returned to Ringwood East owner

csv8 · 21-03-2010, 01:23 PM

Prized Torana returned to Ringwood East owner

* Mary Papadakis
* From: Herald Sun
* March 20, 2010 5:43PM

Mary Shaw

92-year-old Mary Shaw is delighted that she has got her Holden Torana Sunbird back after it was stolen from her Ringwood East home. The hubcaps, number plates and a Hawthorn AFL sticker were removed.

A RELIEVED pensioner was this morning reunited with her beloved Torana, which was stolen from the driveway of her Ringwood East home two weeks ago.

A sprightly Mary Shaw, 92, said she was thrilled to have her prized car back home and could not believe her luck when police told her it had been found.

"I nearly went through the phone. I screamed. I don't know if the policeman got his hearing back," she said with a laugh.

"It was the most excited I've ever been. I didn't expect to get it back. I thought it was gone."

Mrs Shaw and her late husband, Bert, bought the car in 1978, but he died 10 days later.

The sky blue Holden Torana Sunbird, which she had to teach herself to drive after his death, is a treasured reminder of him.

The car was found about 15kms away on Leonards Rd, near the Coldstream tip, yesterday morning after being sighted by a passerby who contacted 000.

The original licence plate, ACY863, was stolen, along with hub caps and a Hawthorn Football Club sticker from the back window.

"I've very hurt about that sticker being taken off. I've put a fresh one on," Mrs Shaw, a Hawthorn member for more than 50 years, said.

Victoria Police Sen-Constable Jordan Brown said it was a great result.

"It has so much sentimental value to her, it wasn't just another car," he said.

Sen-Constable Brown, of the Croydon Theft of Motor Car Action Team, said forensic tests were being conducted on finger prints found on the car and a pair of high-heeled shoes found near where it was dumped.

Mrs Shaw, who plans to get back on the road as soon as possible, said she would invest in more security to protect her much-loved car which has traveled about 101,000kms.

She and her nephew Frank Ahern thanked police, the media and the public for their help.

My comment..she is very lucky,not many stolen cars are found and returned in one piece.

**ebxr8240** · 21-03-2010, 09:00 PM

If I had some hub caps I'd fit them for her...
Good story...

XR8putts · 21-03-2010, 09:03 PM

Well isn't that nice

g220ba · 21-03-2010, 09:12 PM

Fantastic news, she is one very lucky lady. Such a shame it was stolen in the first place but good to here she got it back in one piece.

JK EX CHASER · 21-03-2010, 09:28 PM

It should be put in a museum with full story , so other people can see how heartless some people can be.good on her.

JC · 21-03-2010, 09:31 PM

Who is the sick individual that stole a sunbird?? Some people are just lower than low.

Nice she got her car back; interesting the thieves kept the most valuable part (hub caps).

**ebxr8240** · 21-03-2010, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

Nice she got her car back; interesting the thieves kept the most valuable part (hub caps).

Yea I want some for my car trailor..

GrimmReaper09 · 22-03-2010, 01:14 AM

Bought in 1978 and it's only done 101,000km........wow. Most cars pass that mark within 3 to 5 years. That's amazing. Glad the old duck got it back.

dannyxm · 22-03-2010, 09:23 AM

Well thats a nice story to read on a Monday morning.

good for her

camfraser · 22-03-2010, 09:35 AM

Strange thing happened to me. I just bought a blue Sunbird two weeks ago. My sister called me and said "I think you've bought a stolen car". My plates are ACH, not ACY. Made me think for a minute though.

gcg2503 · 22-03-2010, 09:37 AM

Glad she has been reunited with it. A happy ending for a change

PS: was it a Radial Tuned Suspension car I wonder? lol

csv8 · 22-03-2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camfraser

Strange thing happened to me. I just bought a blue Sunbird two weeks ago. My sister called me and said "I think you've bought a stolen car". My plates are ACH, not ACY. Made me think for a minute though.

I know a good psychiatrist !!!!!

gcg2503 · 22-03-2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

I know a good psychiatrist !!!!!

I hear NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) can help cure people of bad psychological type traits

Bud Bud · 22-03-2010, 10:09 AM

No matter what people think about the car as just being another $h!t box, it just goes to show the human face of anguish behind the crime. I can see where some might even joke that these heartless b@st@rd$ might be doing her a favour because of the nature of the car, but there is no compensation that could have been possibly paid by any insurance company to replace her memories or reduce her pain.

I for one is glad that it was found relatively unscathed and not ploughed into a pole or as a burnt out shell.

camfraser · 22-03-2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcg2503

I hear NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) can help cure people of bad psychological type traits

tease if you must, but it too is a former "grandma special". Perfect interior, 124km. And will go extremely well with triple carbs

gcg2503 · 22-03-2010, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camfraser

tease if you must, but it too is a former "grandma special". Perfect interior, 124km. And will go extremely well with triple carbs

All in good fun mate!

Any car that has been well preserved like that brings a smile to my face on the road. Even if it is a Holden!

Although the smile gets bigger when its a Ford ;)

FPV+fteT3 · 22-03-2010, 12:37 PM

Latest news is the old dear is having trouble driving it with the 4000rpm stallie and big block that was fitted in the night it went missing and the hubcaps would fit on the 20's................
She is a lucky lady most never get seen again.

camfraser · 22-03-2010, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcg2503

All in good fun mate!

Any car that has been well preserved like that brings a smile to my face on the road. Even if it is a Holden!

my thoughts exactly!

tankclare · 22-03-2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV+fteT3

Latest news is the old dear is having trouble driving it with the 4000rpm stallie and big block that was fitted in the night it went missing and the hubcaps would fit on the 20's................
She is a lucky lady most never get seen again.

haha I can imagine a 90 year old driving a big block torana. Would be a funny site in deed. Pulls up next to a p plater in a vn commodore, she smiles at him, he gives her a dirty look, lights go green and BRRRROOOOM, p plater goes home for a nappy change.

But on a serious note, its great she got her car back in one piece.

RedHotGT · 22-03-2010, 04:02 PM

I'll bet that the price of basic torana's has just gone up - seeing that it has been published that this car may have been worth $15k...

You do see them around - elderly driving the cars they bought new in the 70s...
good on them...
hopefully i'll be doing the same when I get old(er)...

**TUF_302** · 22-03-2010, 04:19 PM

Makes a nice change to read a story like this!, very happy for the old lady!

:

Saraco · 22-03-2010, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camfraser

tease if you must, but it too is a former "grandma special". Perfect interior, 124km. And will go extremely well with triple carbs

Even when it's an OPEL 4CYLINDER 1.9 LITRE!?

camfraser · 23-03-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saraco

Even when it's an OPEL 4CYLINDER 1.9 LITRE!?

opel will not be the motor used, good old red six

tankclare · 23-03-2010, 02:32 PM

yep..the good old holden red six..got one in our torana and they are no slouch with a bit of work. Although they use just as much if not more fuel than a v8 lol

Saraco · 23-03-2010, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camfraser

opel will not be the motor used, good old red six

Not if it was an LX Sunbird mate! Sunbirds were all 4 bangers Toranas were 6's and 8's.

302 XC · 23-03-2010, 07:37 PM

sunbirds were 4s
wow some of you guys need to read up a bit more
as for ol biddies takin on anything
theres a 70 year old in town , wholl take on anything
(drivin a turbo 80 series landcruiser,helps)

csv8 · 24-03-2010, 01:51 AM

There's an elderly chinese man, near me who drives a GRANGE !!!

camfraser · 24-03-2010, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saraco

Not if it was an LX Sunbird mate! Sunbirds were all 4 bangers Toranas were 6's and 8's.

Of course its a 4 banger... It just won't be for long. It's a UC by the way, ugly duckling of the family but I don't mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nerida67

sunbirds were 4s
wow some of you guys need to read up a bit more
as for ol biddies takin on anything
theres a 70 year old in town , wholl take on anything
(drivin a turbo 80 series landcruiser,helps)

no reading to be done, I think everyone has acknowledged they're 4s.

**ebxr8240** · 24-03-2010, 09:50 AM

Doesn't matter what car it was.. She got it back and I can only imagine the anxiety and happiness for her when she got it back.... GOOD on her...

Sheesh I'v had my XR8 since 91 when I bought it hmm ??...