Harry Potter and the Vanishing Car: Police launch investigation as ‘priceless’ light blue Ford Anglia flying car replica goes missing
- Owner Steven Wickenden had seen the car in his garage in Kent last Monday
- Even though the car is insured for £10,000, its owner considers it ‘priceless’
- Mr Wickenden made the car available for Harry Potter themed weddings, parties, fun days and movie shoots
Police have launched an investigation after a replica of the flying car from the Harry Potter series vanished.
The rare Ford Anglia, signed by actors from the films and complete with a model owl in the back, was stolen from its owner’s garage in Walmer, Kent.
Current owner Steven Wickenden is appealing for witnesses to help get the ‘priceless’ car back.
The 47-year-old, who also owns a DeLorean from Back to the Future, said: ‘I went to the garage to take a tyre pump from the car this morning and I found the garage door unlocked and the car gone.
The ‘priceless’ flying car was stolen from its owner’s garage last week. Pictured: John Richardson, special effects supervisor, at the Leavesden Studios
‘It is devastating.’
Mr Wickenden discovered the theft yesterday at noon and had last seen the flying car secured in the garage last Monday.
The vehicle, which was taken between Wednesday and Friday, is insured for £10,000 but its owner says it is ‘priceless.’
He said: ‘I have heard that a postman saw a young lad driving the car and the lad asked him for directions to Dover.
‘He then went racing off down the street.’
Mr Wickenden has reported the theft to police.
He has had the light blue 1965 105E model, registered GKX 840C, for two years.
He made it available to hire for Harry Potter themed weddings, birthday parties, fun days and for TV and movie filming.
The car even has a model of a snowy owl in a cage in the back seat.
The car has had stars from the films in the driving seat, including Rupert Grint who played Harry’s best friend Ron Weasley (pictured left)
It has had stars from the films in the driving seat, like Rupert Grint who played Harry’s best friend Ron Weasley and Julie Walters, Ron’s mother Molly.
These and other cast and crew have signed the vehicle.
The Harry Potter car is a last generation Ford Anglia, made between 1959 and 1968.
It is particularly distinguishable by its backward-slanted rear window.