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Crushed by the council: the £30,000 classic car that was parked legally
Last updated at 17:37pm on 10.04.07It was Mendoza Stewart's pride and joy. A 1972 hand-crafted Bristol 411 - one of only 287 ever made and worth £30,000.
But the vehicle's status as a classic car was apparently lost on parking officials at Lambeth Council in South London.
Despite it being legally parked, they towed it away and crushed it.
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Mendoza Stewart's pride and joy: His £30,000 classic car
Mr Stewart, a 51-year-old music producer, is devastated by the loss of his rare car and has not yet received any compensation despite the council admitting it was in the wrong.
"It was a very special car that I bought in 1984 after a long search,' he said. 'I found it with a dealer in Wimbledon. It is unlikely I shall find another."
Mr Stewart, who lives in Kennington, South London, parked the car in a council-run car park near his son's flat in nearby Camberwell. But when he returned it was missing.
"I was horrified," he said. "I thought it had been stolen and went to the police. They were unable to find it but after investigating discovered that Lambeth had taken it away.
"Someone who spotted my car arriving at the pound said that within minutes they had used a mechanical grab to pick it up by the roof instead of carefully lifting it down.
"By then it was all over. It was utterly wrecked before I had a chance to retrieve it. I have not seen it since. They cannot explain why they took away what is obviously a special, rare car."
The aluminium-bodied vehicle, built by British manufacturer Bristol Cars, was in good condition and was exempt from road tax because of its status as a classic car.
Mr Stewart, who insists a special "nil payment" disc was clearly displayed in the windscreen, took legal action against the council after the incident in December 2004.
But more than two years on, despite the council admitting liability, he has still not received a penny - and he has been reduced to driving an ageing van instead of his treasured Bristol.
"I cannot believe it has taken so long," said Mr Stewart. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency confirmed Mr Stewart's Bristol would have been a classic car because of its age and not subject to road tax.
A Lambeth spokesman said: "Solicitors acting for Lambeth council have accepted breach of duty on behalf of their client. The council apologises to Mr Stewart.
"As the matter is currently being litigated, we cannot comment further at this time but we are working hard to resolve this case as soon as possible."
Bristol Cars has made hand-built luxury cars at Filton, Bristol, since 1945. The 411 was produced between 1968 and 1976 and only 287 were made. In 1972 its showroom price was just under £7,000.
Its Chrysler V8 engine made it the fastest four-seater car of its time, capable of accelerating from 0-60 in seven seconds and a top speed of 143mph.
The company, which has a showroom in Kensington, West London, deals direct with the public and has no distributors or dealerships. It boasts of being the last wholly British-owned luxury car builder.
Originally an aircraft manufacturer, Bristol began making cars after World War II when the company found it had a surplus of skilled workers with nothing to build.
The original designs were modified from those acquired from the BMW factory in Munich as part of war reparations paid to Britain by Germany.
Reader views (20)
Well,i cant say i have any sympathy,this sort bof thing goes on all the time,yesterday my friends MG was towed away from his own drive-way??!!
They cause people to NOT buy new cars.
I would buy new vans for my business,but,because of the towing and fining that goes on,old scrappers will have to suffice forever.
- John Owen, london,uk
I agree with Josephine, somebody has committed criminal damage, and after the council has decided who that person was, they should be tried in a court of law, like anyone else. As for poor Mr.Stewart, replacing his car with an exact 'like' may be impossible, in which case a new one may be acceptable to him. I mean of course a one-off hand built recreation of the one he has lost. Probably cost about ten times the market value of the one he lost, but if that's what it costs, then that's what the council should pay, plus consequential damages for being without it for two years.
- Mike Williams, Milton Keynes, UK
Eric M, Pittsburgh, PA. Have you never read Animal Farm?
- Steven Love, Whitstable, Kent
I wonder how long all the people will be abused like this before the authorities are held to account by a revolution. We need a Union of the People.
- Brett, Surrey, UK
I know very little about cars, but even I can see what a beautiful car that was. My sympathies for the owner, and for anyone who lives around that area. It must be an awful mess!
You know, my initial reaction to Mr. Eric M.'s suggestion was, "We should accept that the Brits are different! Shh!" But after reading the comments about making a governing body to watch over the councils—which are themselves governing bodies — I tend to agree with him. Eventually, the watchmen would become as corrupt as the councils.
I don't have a solution, of course. But I do hope it gets better.
- Pamela Medley, Fort Smith, AR, USA
Instead of creating more bureaucracy, why don't you fire the politicians that cause your day to day nightmares? Out of a catapult would be nice, but putting in real people might be a good step in the right direction. Glad it was not my car or else it would have been even uglier!
- Eric M, Pittsburgh, PA
I live in Lambeth, and the council parking officials are a menace - never applying common sense in ignoring cars that are actually causing obstructions, and ticketing others on technicalities.
The fact that they have an e-commerce department with 24 hour phone lines dedicated to letting people pay fines indicates to me that they regard parking fines as a source of income. Civil servants indeed.
No sour grapes if you're wondering - I've never had a ticket, though I know plenty of people who have - I'm just incensed by the way my elected representatives behave.
- Steve H, London, UK
The destruction by Lambeth Council of this vehicle is typical of the high handed do-gooders employed by such authorities. It is motivated by greed and envy. I'm sure employing a good human rights lawyer would resolve the issue. If a Councillor's car had been trashed in the same manner, there would have been an instant pay out.
- Phil Herbert, Hinckley
Stephen S is right. Councils are a law unto themselves, even in Australia. We need a watchdog style bureaucracy to hold councils liable for their actions and policies.
- Peter A, Sydney Australia
This is one of the most ridiculous and yet credible reasons why there should at least be a governing body to check the competence of our councils as to whether they are qualified to make such decisions on a road.
It is high time that Lambeth council pay this man what is clearly owed to him, plus the inconvenience of doing without his desired vehicle for this long duration of time.
In my opinion, if a car of this kind is worth £30,000, the loss and destruction of the vehicle is worth far more and no amount of money can bring it back.
- Stephen S, London, UK
It's quite simple. Mr Stewart should make a formal complaint to the council, who should then make a formal investigation. When the guilty parties are found, they should be crushed in the same crusher. It's only fair.
- Aus9+1, London
C’mon Lambeth pay up – it’s been 2 years! You get my council tax and I’d much rather some of it go to Mr Stewart than the usual rubbish you waste it on. Oh hang on; maybe Lambeth council’s lawyers haven’t milked it for all it’s worth yet... let them earn a few more grand before paying up, can’t have them going hungry now can we.
- Craig, London
That'll teach him to leave an expensive car parked in Lambeth!
My partner has a recent Audi and they took that away because he had placed it a millimetre over some arbitrary line or other!
- Johnno, Staffordshire
Agreed with all that 02 Man and others say.
This was beyond doubt the single greatest act of incompetence ever perpetrated by Lambeth Council, and that is not a record to be proud of.
- Gjr 11l, Back of beyond, Up North
Councils seem to have forgotten they are meant to work FOR us, not AGAINST us. Josephine M.'s suggestion of surcharging the councillors is a good one, "pour encourager les autres"!
- Steve R, London, UK
That is shocking beyond belief, to lift it with a grab and crush it the very same day gives you no chance whatsoever to retrieve the vehicle. It's a criminal act and if I were the owner I would seek to press criminal charges. As a classic car owner myself, my heart goes out to the owner, money cannot compensate for the work and love that goes in to these cars.
Very, very sad... you have a lot of support.
- 02man, Godstone, Surrey
Sheer jealousy from the Council workers. I bet the banger that was parked next to it is still there.
- Charlie, London
This appears to be a case of malicious intent, and criminal charges should be brought. Council taxpayers ought not to have to foot any bill in this matter, but the councillors themselves should bear the costs of proceedings and damages paid. I would advise that the councillors be sued individually and severally for this act which appears to comprise theft and destruction.
- Josephine M., London
I would say sue them for every penny they have, but as a Lambeth resident it would be us local council taxpayer that picked up any bill. Surely this is a case of criminal damage? I'd be pressing for the individuals involved to face substantial fines or imprisonment.
- Philip, London, England
I am fairly incensed after reading this. It just sums up the level of idiotic behaviour that has to be put up with from the cretins who work for local authorities. This just smacks of spite, thoughtlessness and sheer vindictiveness.
Why would anyone do this, and to crush it on the same day just beggars belief. I hope the owner takes them to the proverbial cleaners.
- Jk, London, UK
