Nowhere Alpine

Barrie L. Henderson (hendersb(at)direct.ca)
Sun, 16 Jun 1996 06:01:19 -0700


Back in February I posted the following on the Alpines list: ________________________________________________________________________ I don't know if this is a wise thing to do - but I'm going to do it anyway.

Has anyone out there had an Alpine stolen from them in the last month or so?

It's a Series lV with a 1725 cc and all-synchro tranny - good paint job - tattered soft-top - some sports boots in the trunk - hood that will not open so I can't get to the serial number to trace it down - totally screwed up seats.

If you can send me a (private) e-mail with some more identifying information such as where the heater blower switch is located on the dash - where there is a scrape on a fender - I will contact you and tell you where the car is.

Much as I would like to acquire it for myself (legally of course) I hate to see a fine specimen of the marque sitting abandoned like "nowhere man" with no identity.

Anyone know anything about this car? _________________________________________________________________________

Here's an update on the story:

I went to the place with my tools - got the hood open (with a Stanley bar!) so the property owner could get the serial number and report it to the police. I hooked up jumper cables, stuck an old ignition switch onto the wires (which were hanging loose below the dash)- turned the switch with my Ford gascap key, gave it a shot of Quick Start and lo and behold it fired right up and ran like a charm. It was out of gas and the property manager put a gallon in - it runs beautifully!

But that's not the end of the story - the manager called the cops and they came right over - with a towtruck and took it away! Seems it's evidence in a criminal investigation. It now rests in the police yard.

Don't think I have much chance of acquiring it now -- even if I did I'd have to have it painted a different colour right away (it has a distinctive non-original metalic paint job) - don't think I would want to be recognized by the previous owner if it's a 'crime' car. Who knows maybe there is a stash of drugs inside the spare tire?

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I guess not all Alpine owners are fine, law-abiding, upstanding citizens like us? Barrie Henderson