STOLEN Crossle and Trailer • HELP!

[stevenl]

My 1978 Crossle 32f and Open Trailer were stolen early this morning from my an underground garage in the Van Nuys - Sherman Oaks area of California.

1978 Crossle 32f: blue with an orange stripe, #23 on the engine cover, the nose cone is not on. Gray Panasport FF wheels. Roll bar number 33-1463

Trailer: 1983, small open trailer, white, California plate TC2362
Please Share!

[reidhazelton]

Tell me that garage has security cameras in it....

[Daryl DeArman]

Sorry to hear that Luftman. With so few cars on our roads these days, and officers with a bit more bandwidth than usual, maybe chances of it being spotted are better than ever.

[t walgamuth]

Who would steal a FF?

Crazy.

[Rick Kirchner]

stealing the trailer for lawn service work, probably

[DaveW]

stealing the trailer for lawn service work, probably

Those types usually want an enclosed trailer with a full floor, not an open "ramp" trailer. If it has a full floor, lawn service thieves are somewhat more likely.

Hope they find both the car and the trailer.

F'ing creeps !!!

[stevenl]

Yes, the trailer is open floor — built for FF. I would think it would be quite difficult to sell, or part out.

Those types usually want an enclosed trailer with a full floor, not an open "ramp" trailer. If it has a full floor, lawn service thieves are somewhat more likely.

Hope they find both the car and the trailer.

F'ing creeps !!!

[bobmic]

Probably should post in the vintage cars and parts for sale section also. Lots more traffic there and that group is looking for parts and cars in several locations.

Hope you get it back soon!

[Hawke]

Who would steal a FF?

Crazy.

Over ten years ago, a drug family stole my Hawke, and were planning to mount a stolen Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher to the roll bar, and drive it through Sydney, and fire on the Opera House. It wasn’t a brilliant plan, as the goof heads drove the car around the streets, and it was spotted. After 6 weeks, it was found, still intact, but well worn, with the extinguisher set off - apparently to hide fingerprints.

Hopefully your car will be found as well.

What worked for me, was contacting the governing body of motorsport in Australia - CAMS. They sent a message to every car club in the country, and it was a member of one of those - the Holden FC Owners Club - that saw the car being driven on the road.

[t walgamuth]

Dipshytes!

[Rick Kirchner]

Man, I read right past the "open" part in the original post. Which means they stole it for the car. Lord only knows what they'll do with it and where.

I'd think that any car thief with **** for brains knows that the only way to unload a race car is overseas, and in a hurry, and a FF isn't worth the risk. I'd think our Aussie, Brit, and NZ friends would be on the lookout.

So that means they're just going to go out and go-kart it somewhere, and then dump it, if they can figure out how to start it.

Steve probably knows this, but LA is not a city, but a collection of something like 70 small cities, and he'll need to send that pic to every one of the police departments so they know what it is when it shows up on some truck lot in Vernon.

[Robert J. Alder]

Steven, how could someone get in touch with you should they have some info on your car?
Bob Alder - Denver 303-981-6364 r.alder@earthlink.net

[Hawke]

Man, I read right past the "open" part in the original post. Which means they stole it for the car. Lord only knows what they'll do with it and where.

I'd think that any car thief with **** for brains knows that the only way to unload a race car is overseas, and in a hurry, and a FF isn't worth the risk. I'd think our Aussie, Brit, and NZ friends would be on the lookout.

So that means they're just going to go out and go-kart it somewhere, and then dump it, if they can figure out how to start it.

Steve probably knows this, but LA is not a city, but a collection of something like 70 small cities, and he'll need to send that pic to every one of the police departments so they know what it is when it shows up on some truck lot in Vernon.

Rick, given the current exchange rate of the Aussie Dollar, and the import restrictions on cars - asbestos related - it would be unlikely the car will get to this part of the world.

[Rick Iverson]

Steve;

Tough break.

• National engine builder? If so, a list of the stamped numbers on the block, head, intake etc.;
• Chassis plate number?
• Chassis stamped number location and number;
• Prepared GB? If so, stamped builder ID and numbers;
• Transponder numbers;
• Any systems with factory ID numbers, like Stack, Pi, Aim etc?
• ANYTHING unique to the chassis/ancillaries you did that sets if off from stock? If so, what, where, and how.

They are not going to repaint and hit the tracks. My surmise they’ll part it out, and the more information, the better to identify it on Craig’s List etc.

If I missed something on the list, chime in Fellas.

[racerdad2]

This has many shares on Facebook. Racers are on the lookout.

[stevenl]

Steven, how could someone get in touch with you should they have some info on your car?
Bob Alder - Denver 303-981-6364 r.alder@earthlink.net

Steven Luftman
Sluftman(at)gmail.com 310-503-9958

Thanks Bob

[stevenl]

Steve;

Tough break.

• National engine builder? If so, a list of the stamped numbers on the block, head, intake etc.;
• Chassis plate number?
• Chassis stamped number location and number;
• Prepared GB? If so, stamped builder ID and numbers;
• Transponder numbers;
• Any systems with factory ID numbers, like Stack, Pi, Aim etc?
• ANYTHING unique to the chassis/ancillaries you did that sets if off from stock? If so, what, where, and how.

They are not going to repaint and hit the tracks. My surmise they’ll part it out, and the more information, the better to identify it on Craig’s List etc.

If I missed something on the list, chime in Fellas.

• Ivey Engine - # 0373
• Identity No. - 33 1463 -stamped on the roll bar, drivers right hand side.
• Transponder - 0410290
• Dash - AIM MyChron 3
• Penske 8100 shocks with external reservoir
• IRD Trailer "Penny Pincher" single axle (see photo) painted white

Thank you!

[Daryl DeArman]

Ah man. . . I saw you posted again thought it was found!

Whose Crossle was this before you acquired it? Paul C, Craig H, Tim H?

[stevenl]

Ah man. . . I saw you posted again thought it was found!

Whose Crossle was this before you acquired it? Paul C, Craig H, Tim H?

I wish

I bought it from Lee Follansbee. Lee owned it for only a couple of months, ran it for two races with VARA. It was built by/for Scott Bergan who ran it with the SFR around 2001-2004.

Attached is a flyer I've been distributing in the valley. I'm thinking once the culprits figure what the car isn't easily fenced they will dump it.
Stolen Crossle-Luftman2r3rcr.pdf

[t walgamuth]

• Ivey Engine - # 0373
• Identity No. - 33 1463 -stamped on the roll bar, drivers right hand side.
• Transponder - 0410290
• Dash - AIM MyChron 3
• Penske 8100 shocks with external reservoir
• IRD Trailer "Penny Pincher" single axle (see photo) painted white

Thank you!

I love this minimalist trailer!

[stevenl]

A huge thanks to the online FF/racing community! Special thanks to Toddd Gerstenberger, Todd’s anonymous friend, Dylan Sayles, Efrain Olvares, and Paul Curley!!

I honestly didn’t think I’d see her again, I figured it would be parted out, or abandoned on the side of a ditch.

Details of the story to come, but it turns out that hot Crossle's are not easy to sell.

Miraculously, the car seems to be almost as I last saw it.

Thank you to everyone!!

[bobmic]

A huge thanks to the online FF/racing community! Special thanks to Toddd Gerstenberger, Todd’s anonymous friend, Dylan Sayles, Efrain Olvares, and Paul Curley!!

I honestly didn’t think I’d see her again, I figured it would be parted out, or abandoned on the side of a ditch.

Details of the story to come, but it turns out that hot Crossle's are not easy to sell.

Miraculously, the car seems to be almost as I last saw it.

Thank you to everyone!!

EXCELLENT!!! So happy to hear you got it and in one piece.

[Rick Iverson]

A huge thanks to the online FF/racing community! Special thanks to Toddd Gerstenberger, Todd’s anonymous friend, Dylan Sayles, Efrain Olvares, and Paul Curley!!

I honestly didn’t think I’d see her again, I figured it would be parted out, or abandoned on the side of a ditch.

Details of the story to come, but it turns out that hot Crossle's are not easy to sell.

Miraculously, the car seems to be almost as I last saw it.

Thank you to everyone!!

I am pleased.

[stownsen914]

Wow, good news!

[E1pix]

Despising thieves as I do, and in full pleasure of your finding it, it’s time for bad English...

Sa-WEEEET! Sincerest Congratulations! Looking forward to reading details and hoping there’s a fat lip in it somewhere...

(+ 97 more)

[R. Pare]

The intelligence level of some thieves is rather debatable.

[Robert J. Alder]

What a nice outcome! We'd love to know how/why the recovery came about. Might be some valuable lessons learned.

[billtebbutt]

It is great to see you and the car reunited, and with the car unscathed. Sounds like the racing community played a role here, which is the kind of thing we have rightly come to expect from each other.

The suspense is killing me/us!!!! . Tell us, what did the brainiacs do to foil their perfect crime?

best
BT

[E1pix]

I’m hoping the car was recovered in Bludgeonville.

Fair is fair.

[Rick Iverson]

Details on the recovery, please.

A huge thanks to the online FF/racing community! Special thanks to Toddd Gerstenberger, Todd’s anonymous friend, Dylan Sayles, Efrain Olvares, and Paul Curley!!

I honestly didn’t think I’d see her again, I figured it would be parted out, or abandoned on the side of a ditch.

Details of the story to come, but it turns out that hot Crossle's are not easy to sell.

Miraculously, the car seems to be almost as I last saw it.

Thank you to everyone!!