VW bus stolen 35 years ago is found in shipping container bound for Europe

[Liberal_in_LA]

VW bus stolen 35 years ago is found in shipping container bound for Europe

Customs agents inspecting a load bound for the Netherlands discovered a 1965 van that disappeared from a Spokane repair shop in 1974. CHP investigators are searching for the thieves.



The unusual seizure of the bus on Oct. 19 came during a routine inspection of several Volkswagens that were being shipped by an Arizona restorer to customers in Europe. The vehicle identification number of the bus, which was swiped in Spokane on July 12, 1974, was still in police computers.

"Pretty amazing, isn't it?" customs spokesman Jaime Ruiz said Thursday when the find was announced.

The restorer, who was not identified, isn't a suspect in the long-ago theft, authorities said.

Maleta said Spokane police couldn't find the owner.

"Allstate paid her $2,500 or so to settle the claim," he said. "Now it's worth $25,000. . . . It's in pristine condition. It looks like it's brand new. So Allstate wanted it."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-stolen-bus6-2009nov06,0,5595923.story

[enigmatic]

1. Wow

What a cool story. That's a sweet looking VW van, too; I could see it being sold for more like 40 grand if it's in near-mint condition.

[uncle ray]

4. i don't see anything cool about the story.

sounds like there was a legit-appearing paper trail so it appeared the bus was legally owned by all of the recent owners. somebody spent a lot of money and time to restore it, they just got screwed by the insurance company. the original owner was paid off long ago, so she has no legitimate legal interest in the recovered property so she can't reclaim it unless she wins it at auction.

[Egnever]

2. What does the restorer get for his work?

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. Nothing. He purchased a stolen car (unknowingly)

[Egnever]

5. That sucks looks like he did some great work

All state should pay him for the restoration.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Did they find my roach clip? I left it there after the Iron Butterfly concert.

Oh, never mind.

[SoCalDem]

7. The former owner should sue Allstate for the van, and only have to give then the $2K back

:)

[B Calm]

8. reminds me of the one I use to have. It was like driving an airplane,

but that could have been the influence of the drugs giving me that impression.

[SmileyRose]

9. Want

gimme.