Stolen 1965 Ford Thunderbird found in Gisborne garage a week later

This 1965 Thunderbird convertible was found seven days later after being stolen from a locked garage in Gisborne last week.

A chance drive around Gisborne led to the discovery of a white 1965 Thunderbird convertible stolen from a garage last week.

Keen classic car man Rick Brenchley and Mark Tilley, whose parents Ralph (the late) and Margaret Tilley owned the car, were driving when Brenchley spotted the front of it in a garage at a house in the suburb of Kaiti.

“I was bloody sure [it was the car],” Brenchley said.

Police were notified and the car was identified, recovered and transported back on a tow truck.

Brenchley, who is the event manager for the popular Gisborne Gas Guzzlers Breakfast “for like-minded petrolheads”, said the family were “ecstatic”.

He made Facebook posts about the car after it was taken from a garage behind a locked gate at a vacant property for sale on Palmerston Rd.

Tilley said the family were delighted to get back a piece of their history, albeit in damaged condition.

Purchased in the 1970s, the car belonged to his father, who died in 1998, and mother. It has a distinctive registration – BIRD65.

“We’re really stoked that it’s been found and it’s been returned and we want to thank the Gisborne community for all their help and the Gisborne police for their help in the recovery of it.

“As it was uninsured, it’s a really big relief to have it back with the family.”

Tilley said the car was found on Monday – a week after it was stolen.

“The police are undertaking a forensic examination of the vehicle,” he said. “It’s damaged. Some parts have been taken off it. The rear lights are gone, and it’s damaged along the side of the car and the doors don’t shut. The hub caps are missing and obviously registration plates and everything are missing.

“We’ll have to restore it and get it back to drivable condition.”

The car’s future was yet to be decided.

“Obviously, being in the family for a long time, whether somebody wants to take on the job of restoring it or whether we sell it, I’m not sure,” Tilley said.

“We’re just going to have to reassess.”

He was grateful to all the people who helped after the car was reported missing.

“I really want to reiterate we want to thank everybody for their help and assistance in providing information about sightings of it and where it could be, and also the Gisborne police.”