Fishy end for missing car

The car is hauled from the boat ramp. Photo/Rebecca Savory

A search for a missing car ended in a fishy surprise today when the car was finally recovered and pulled from Tauranga Harbour, reportedly years after it went missing.

A small crowd gathering around the action cheered when the stinky mess was hauled up the boat ramp, with fish and crabs jumping for their lives.

Rob Campbell, of Bay Underwater Services, said police had been tipped off to the car's location by a person snorkeling a few weeks ago.

He understood the car had been missing for about two years.

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They reported spotting it about 20m down a Sulphur Point boat ramp and divers had been searching each ramp since.

Today was the last ramp to be searched, off Cross Rd near the Harbour Bridge, where divers found the car about 20m down the ramp, sitting safely on its four wheels.

"It's definitely been there a while," Mr Campbell said.

Marine growth had taken over the car and the bottom was full of sand, he said.

The roof had been pushed down where Mr Campbell thought the ferry may have been over.

Mr Campbell hooked up the Rowes Motors tow rope and the car was hauled back to dry land.

The matter would be referred to the insurance company and police, Mr Campbell said.

The car is hauled from the boat ramp. Photo/Rebecca Savory

The car is hauled from the boat ramp. Photo/Rebecca Savory

The keys of the car still in the ignition. Photo/Rebecca Savory