So when this went last Saturday I posted this on the retro rides forum, the volvo forum and the ovalchat forum.
Had a lot of response and sympathy but no leads.
I checked all the scrapyards in my area and called all the volvo garages I knew to see if any parts came their way.
Nothing in the scrap and all the mechanics said the same thing, 240's are going quicker than you can blink.
All in a three or so mile radius.
Then on Wednesday (my birthday to really set it off) I found out that this Saturday is the world final banger racing contest in ipswich. One of if not the biggest meet of the year.
So I was convinced mine was nabbed to supply a track car.
I started asking around if anyone knew of any banger yards in the south I could check out. Had a some friends of friends who use to race tell me about a couple and a few tip offs via pm's on the forums.
I checked out a few of them most were just one or two cars. Couldn't find some and couldn't get into/look into the rest.
On saturday I got a message from someone telling me they knew of some bangers being trailered around Biggin Hill Airport.
Onto Google Maps....
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After about a 40 mins scanning round the edge in bigger circles...
Spotted the scrap yard on the left...
Thought there was another on the right too but then zoomed in...
Looked like the blue cars were painted in team colours.
Figured this was a pretty good bet.
Got a couple of mates to drive me down there.
Arrived and found a locked gate at the entrance, can't really wander down there and say I was lost...
Spent the next hour walking round footpaths etc trying to get a look in but there were too many trees all round. Crawled through a bush or two but no luck.
The Police already told me they can't attend unless I have actually seen the car and know it's mine.
Decided to take a walk up the path and have a look. Got all the way to the yard and saw what I thought were blue cars turned out to be tarp. About 8 or so cars covered and around 8 not. Then heard there was someone right in front of me under a car so turned round and left. There were a bunch of other yards and didn't know who was about.
But before that I spotted a tarp the shape of a 240 and right in front of me a 240 banger.
I finally managed to get the police to turn up after I said I was going back in.
I really thought they would turn up and tell me they can't go in unless I was sure and I should go home blah blah blah but they surprised me.
Waited an hour and a half then got a call from a PC saying he was in the yard looking at a white volvo and told me to drive up to ID it. Never expected that.
Whoever was working there had left and the owner of the farm let us in, drove up and found this...
At first I thought it was too wrecked to be mine, looks like its been there months. Told the copper what should have been in there and we had a look.
Instantly spotted my armrest. It was a tan one from the states that I vinyl dyed black and that had been cracking off....doubt there's another.
Gutted but also relieved to have found it.
But the copper needed me to find the VIN, I didn't know where that was but what I did know is that every piece of original glass in it has the reg etched in the corner and in the coppers words "Bingo!".
In a week it my car had gone from this...
To this...
The bits gone were...
Front chrome grill with Lambda Sond badge.
All the chrome side trim
Chrome bumper trim
Rear bumper with the red reflector
Left indicator
Wheels tyres and trim
Spare wheel panel
Drivers side boot panel over the fuel pipe
Rear headrests and cussions
Vinyl luggage cover
Half my stuff that was in the glove box and in centre boot storage
And a big burgundy Cartier Umbrella.....super poncy thing but it was massive and a free gift from some la de da event. (keep an eye out for that round croydon soon!)
Any one sees any parts for sale you know what to do...
any scrappys have the parts wanna gimme a call???
One hub cover was knocking around the foot well and the rear number plate was inside broken on the floor.
Didn't get a chance to look under the bonnet so f**k knows what was gone but my bet is some of it has ended up in this...
Had a nose around for the other parts but nothing.
Police initially said I had to recover the car myself but after phoning the guy who rents the yard and finding out he's not at home they had to take it in for forensics. It's still there.
Had a look around and if anyone is missing a White Nissan, or a Metalic Blue one, possibly bluebirds from seeing the grill but I'm no expert they may well be the ones here.
There was something old and gold under a tarp. Possibly a granny/cortina or a yank but I couldn't tell, not too hot on my fords and could only see the rear.
I would have and should have taken more pics but the coppers weren't too keen and as they arrived at 6 it got pretty dark pretty quick.
I did get one other, had to brighten it in iphoto...
The white one's an estate in really good nick but the interior's removed and stacked in the boot.
Now, I know there could be all sorts of "reasonable" explanations as to how it got there but they can all get f**ked. It's still stolen goods and the fact the thing was all over the web would make any bulls**t void.
I don't know what's gonna happen from here, waiting on the word from the police. You'd think it was pretty clear cut but who knows with this kinda stuff.
If anyone recognises their cars maybe they should pop up and have a look... Maybe tomorrow if he makes it to the meet as he has 2 days to hand himself in.
Oh, and if any of you good ones (99% of you I know) see that 240 at the races....aim well.
But of course that last line was a silly joke
and I definitely don't condone any sort of vigilante groups
heading up there
.
I want to be VERY clear I'm not attacking banger racers in general as I
have met a lot and know how much time and money good people invest in
their sport but i also know none of them would buy a moody motor. This
guy is in the 1% that ruin it for the rest.
Did anyone notice the irony of the road name....Jail Lane! Bloody joke isn't it???
Overheard the copper talking to the land owner and gather the man in question is called Lee and might live nearby. Anyone know him? Or wanna comment yourself? Go on....
Think that's it for now. Gonna wait for the word from the boys in blue. Hopefully they took the initiative to check the rest but although I told them to have a look they didn't seem too eager. To be fair though, the two that attended were very accommodating and very eager to help at the time.
Still Gutted but a little better for actually finding it. Had a pretty strange day indeed.
Wonder if thefts will slow down a bit now?
On a final note anyone got any suggestions what I should do with it next? Getting it back from the pound isn't going to be cheap and I've no idea what's gone from the engine/gearbox/fuel system. And what's the legality regarding keeping a written off car and claiming back on the insurance.
I might donate it/sell it/trade it for favours to one of the volvo garages near me. Or get it back on the road as a rat...might be a bit sore and don't know what would happen to the insurance in that instance.
Anyway, that's that....for now.
Thank you SO much to everyone that helped. Greatly appreciated. Shows what a little team work can achieve.
Ta.
and I definitely don't condone any sort of vigilante groups 
heading up there 
.
