Abandoned car eliminated from Mona Blades inquiry

The Mona Blades case remains open and will continue to be assessed. Photo / Supplied

An abandoned car found by a hunter in the Rangitaiki Forest has been eliminated from the Mona Blades inquiry.

Police said the car was thought to be an orange Datsun but was checked by police and found to be a Mitsubishi, and was confirmed as not related to the case.

Miss Blades, 18, went missing while hitchhiking in 1975 and was last seen in an orange Datsun station wagon.

Her body has never been found and no one has been charged in relation to her death.