Centrepiece Bugatti replica stolen

A £100,000 replica of an historic car has been stolen days before it was due to form the centrepiece of a European exhibition.

The full-size working model of the 1902 De Dietrich Bugatti Type Five has been built in Bristol to the original design.

It was set to be the focal point for the month-long exhibition in Strasbourg to commemorate the industrial heritage of the area.

But now it has been stolen, along with the van in which it was being transported to the French city.

Engineer Richard Day, who built the car, made the shocking discovery.

He had stopped off en-route in Hounslow, Middlesex, to stay for the night with his son and parked the van, which is converted into a specialist car transporter, in a car park.

"I woke up this morning and my worst nightmare came and hit me in the face," said Mr Day. "The van was not where I had very carefully parked it last night.

"Somebody presumably was trying to steal a white van and will have discovered what is inside. It will be difficult for them because, like an Old Master painting, it will not be easy to dispose of something like that."

He now understands that the exhibition, being staged jointly by De Dietrich and Strasbourg's local authority, has been postponed because of the theft.

"I am feeling absolutely devastated," said Mr Day. "I was the custodian of this very important thing that so many people have put so much effort into. It is the worst possible situation I can think of."

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