Vintage find ends racing car mystery

A vintage racing car stolen last year has been found by Police, adding an extra layer to its already colourful history.

The 1962 Brabham BT2, believed to be one of only 11 in the world, was stolen from a property in Paraparaumu Beach, on the Kapiti Coast, in July 2017.

The historic car – rumoured to have links to the Great Train Robbery of 1963 - was found during execution of a search warrant in Lower Hutt last Tuesday (11 September).

The victim, car enthusiast John Rapley, says he thought he would never see his beloved car again.

“We thought it was gone forever - everyone told me it wouldn’t be seen again,” he says.

“I never believed I would get a racing car like this - the car is very special to me. I built it up from a bit of wreckage - and the car has a big history. Everyone remembers it from the 60s.”

Roy ‘The Weasel’ James, getaway car driver for The Great Train Robbery, is purported to have driven the car before his role in the infamous crime in 1963, for which he was jailed for 11 years.

There is also evidence to suggest Kiwi Formula One driver Denny Hulme drove it before it came into the possession of racing driver Graham McRae.

McRae drove the car at a national meet in Levin in 1968 and it has been driven by many others, including over the ditch in Australia.

John first saw the car at that meet in Levin, with McRae behind the wheel. “I still have my programme,” he says.

The vehicle had another owner after McRae. In 1987 John acquired it and spent countless hours making it roadworthy. This involved making a replica chassis: the original chassis is at Southwards Car Museum in Paraparaumu.

After 30 years with the car, he says, it was devastating to lose it - especially after studying and sharing its history.

However, information passed on to police meant Detective Sergeant Mike Tohill and his team were able to locate John’s prized possession.

Mike says it was fantastic to return the car to its rightful owner.

“Given its history and uniqueness, I’ve been aware of this case since the car was taken but unfortunately other leads haven’t led anywhere before this,” says Mike.

“The message to those involved in this sort of offending is that we will be knocking on their door one day. We won’t stop looking for these items, no matter how long it takes.”

John says although the car is no longer driveable, he’s very pleased to have it back. “She’s certainly had one hell of a ride.”