Will make you want to murder someone....
Discussion
www.thisislondon.co.uk said:
It was Mendoza Stewart's pride and joy. A 1972 hand-crafted Bristol 411 - one of only 287 ever made and worth £30,000.
But the vehicle's status as a classic car was apparently lost on parking officials at Lambeth Council in South London.
Despite it being legally parked, they towed it away and crushed it.
Mr Stewart, a 51-year-old music producer, is devastated by the loss of his rare car and has not yet received any compensation despite the council admitting it was in the wrong.
"It was a very special car that I bought in 1984 after a long search,' he said. 'I found it with a dealer in Wimbledon. It is unlikely I shall find another."
Mr Stewart, who lives in Kennington, South London, parked the car in a council-run car park near his son's flat in nearby Camberwell. But when he returned it was missing.
"I was horrified," he said. "I thought it had been stolen and went to the police. They were unable to find it but after investigating discovered that Lambeth had taken it away.
"Someone who spotted my car arriving at the pound said that within minutes they had used a mechanical grab to pick it up by the roof instead of carefully lifting it down.
"By then it was all over. It was utterly wrecked before I had a chance to retrieve it. I have not seen it since. They cannot explain why they took away what is obviously a special, rare car."
The aluminium-bodied vehicle, built by British manufacturer Bristol Cars, was in good condition and was exempt from road tax because of its status as a classic car.
Mr Stewart, who insists a special "nil payment" disc was clearly displayed in the windscreen, took legal action against the council after the incident in December 2004.
But more than two years on, despite the council admitting liability, he has still not received a penny - and he has been reduced to driving an ageing van instead of his treasured Bristol.
"I cannot believe it has taken so long," said Mr Stewart. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency confirmed Mr Stewart's Bristol would have been a classic car because of its age and not subject to road tax.
A Lambeth spokesman said: "Solicitors acting for Lambeth council have accepted breach of duty on behalf of their client. The council apologises to Mr Stewart.
"As the matter is currently being litigated, we cannot comment further at this time but we are working hard to resolve this case as soon as possible."
Bristol Cars has made hand-built luxury cars at Filton, Bristol, since 1945. The 411 was produced between 1968 and 1976 and only 287 were made. In 1972 its showroom price was just under £7,000.
Its Chrysler V8 engine made it the fastest four-seater car of its time, capable of accelerating from 0-60 in seven seconds and a top speed of 143mph.
The company, which has a showroom in Kensington, West London, deals direct with the public and has no distributors or dealerships. It boasts of being the last wholly British-owned luxury car builder.
Originally an aircraft manufacturer, Bristol began making cars after World War II when the company found it had a surplus of skilled workers with nothing to build.
The original designs were modified from those acquired from the BMW factory in Munich as part of war reparations paid to Britain by Germany.
But the vehicle's status as a classic car was apparently lost on parking officials at Lambeth Council in South London.
Despite it being legally parked, they towed it away and crushed it.
Mr Stewart, a 51-year-old music producer, is devastated by the loss of his rare car and has not yet received any compensation despite the council admitting it was in the wrong.
"It was a very special car that I bought in 1984 after a long search,' he said. 'I found it with a dealer in Wimbledon. It is unlikely I shall find another."
Mr Stewart, who lives in Kennington, South London, parked the car in a council-run car park near his son's flat in nearby Camberwell. But when he returned it was missing.
"I was horrified," he said. "I thought it had been stolen and went to the police. They were unable to find it but after investigating discovered that Lambeth had taken it away.
"Someone who spotted my car arriving at the pound said that within minutes they had used a mechanical grab to pick it up by the roof instead of carefully lifting it down.
"By then it was all over. It was utterly wrecked before I had a chance to retrieve it. I have not seen it since. They cannot explain why they took away what is obviously a special, rare car."
The aluminium-bodied vehicle, built by British manufacturer Bristol Cars, was in good condition and was exempt from road tax because of its status as a classic car.
Mr Stewart, who insists a special "nil payment" disc was clearly displayed in the windscreen, took legal action against the council after the incident in December 2004.
But more than two years on, despite the council admitting liability, he has still not received a penny - and he has been reduced to driving an ageing van instead of his treasured Bristol.
"I cannot believe it has taken so long," said Mr Stewart. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency confirmed Mr Stewart's Bristol would have been a classic car because of its age and not subject to road tax.
A Lambeth spokesman said: "Solicitors acting for Lambeth council have accepted breach of duty on behalf of their client. The council apologises to Mr Stewart.
"As the matter is currently being litigated, we cannot comment further at this time but we are working hard to resolve this case as soon as possible."
Bristol Cars has made hand-built luxury cars at Filton, Bristol, since 1945. The 411 was produced between 1968 and 1976 and only 287 were made. In 1972 its showroom price was just under £7,000.
Its Chrysler V8 engine made it the fastest four-seater car of its time, capable of accelerating from 0-60 in seven seconds and a top speed of 143mph.
The company, which has a showroom in Kensington, West London, deals direct with the public and has no distributors or dealerships. It boasts of being the last wholly British-owned luxury car builder.
Originally an aircraft manufacturer, Bristol began making cars after World War II when the company found it had a surplus of skilled workers with nothing to build.
The original designs were modified from those acquired from the BMW factory in Munich as part of war reparations paid to Britain by Germany.
Have you ever felt more angry over a car story?
Edited by MrKipling43 on Thursday 12th April 10:22
Cue the always preditable Bristol jokes now... 
This was being discussed on the Bristol Owners Club forum yesterday. Even if you forgive the council for the act - the unforgivable - it is highly likely that this was sold off for pennies. The bumpers alone could have got £600 plus as there are owners queueing for items like that. If I was a council tax payer in Lambeth I would be as livid as the owner at the poor way in which the council wastes resources.
This was being discussed on the Bristol Owners Club forum yesterday. Even if you forgive the council for the act - the unforgivable - it is highly likely that this was sold off for pennies. The bumpers alone could have got £600 plus as there are owners queueing for items like that. If I was a council tax payer in Lambeth I would be as livid as the owner at the poor way in which the council wastes resources.
sounds to me like he wasnt desplaying the tax free tax disk, you still have to go the post office every year with MOT and insurance docs to reknew your road tax on a tax exempt car, the only diff with classics is you dont hand over any money, apart from that you still have to get a new disk and display it in your window.
that said, heads should role, the people involved in taking and destroying the car should not be in a job, I would try and sue them personally for neglect, 2 years loss of use, estimated appreciation lost as these car only go up in value, etc amongst other things.
that said, heads should role, the people involved in taking and destroying the car should not be in a job, I would try and sue them personally for neglect, 2 years loss of use, estimated appreciation lost as these car only go up in value, etc amongst other things.
poor car. Who's in charge of Lambeth council, and wadda they drive?
Would be horrible if something happened to that!
I think that story is disgusting, and no amount of financial compensation can bring that car back.
Do the people who work as traffic wardens, impound lots, recovery operations and crushers not have one drop of optimax in their blood ... How did someone not go "Wow, how beautiful! Can't crush that!"
Would be horrible if something happened to that!
I think that story is disgusting, and no amount of financial compensation can bring that car back.
Do the people who work as traffic wardens, impound lots, recovery operations and crushers not have one drop of optimax in their blood ... How did someone not go "Wow, how beautiful! Can't crush that!"
Lambeth council said:
A Lambeth spokesman said: "Solicitors acting for Lambeth council have accepted breach of duty on behalf of their client. The council apologises to Mr Stewart.
"As the matter is currently being litigated, we cannot comment further at this time but we are working hard to resolve this case as soon as possible."
"As the matter is currently being litigated, we cannot comment further at this time but we are working hard to resolve this case as soon as possible."
Working hard? How hard is it for someone to reach for the chequebook and write the words 'Thirty Thousand Pounds'?
Wankers. I'm surprised they've actually admitted liability, I'd have thought they'd have tried to wriggle out of it in some way.
An apalling loss of part of irreplaceable motoring heritage....as well as horrid blow to its proud owner.
Makes you wonder what possessed the individuals responsible who actually "stole" the car and then crushed it. What were their motivations?
Did they think they were doing their job? If so they are too stupid to be employed by anyone let alone government. Was it a catalogue of errors one after another? In which case all responsible should be sacked summarily for incompetence. Was it an act of class hatred and a chance for some evil socialist with a chip to gain revenge on someone with a valuable car "legally"? I'm afraid its all too likely it was the last IMO - although the true facts are not known. The fact that the owner has yet to be compensated is SHOCKING. May Lambeth Council rot in the darkest depths of hell for all eternity.
Makes you wonder what possessed the individuals responsible who actually "stole" the car and then crushed it. What were their motivations?
Did they think they were doing their job? If so they are too stupid to be employed by anyone let alone government. Was it a catalogue of errors one after another? In which case all responsible should be sacked summarily for incompetence. Was it an act of class hatred and a chance for some evil socialist with a chip to gain revenge on someone with a valuable car "legally"? I'm afraid its all too likely it was the last IMO - although the true facts are not known. The fact that the owner has yet to be compensated is SHOCKING. May Lambeth Council rot in the darkest depths of hell for all eternity.
mat205125 said:
jagdpanther said:
Is there any way that we could all support this poor chap, show him that someone actually gives a shit?
This is utterly dispicable
This is utterly dispicable
There's gotta be 30,000 of us on here who'd e-transfer a quid into an account ain't there?
I think that's a great idea.
I would be more than happy to back any form of support for this chap....AND IM SKINT
Seriously though, even if we do something that gets his fight known to the open and brings it into light rather than it being quietly smothered as the press like to do...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff