An extremely rare 1960s race car has been found damaged and unable to be driven, after it was stolen from a property in the wealthy Melbourne suburb of Toorak.
Police are investigating the theft of the Brabham BT21, which is believed to have occurred on Hill Street in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The race car is very rare, with only five others like it in the world.
The vintage vehicle was discovered on Grange Road by officers on patrol and police said It had been abandoned just streets away from where it had been taken.
"I don't think they knew how to turn on all the switches to be able to start it properly," owner Peter Williams told ABC Radio Melbourne this morning.
Mr Williams was set to be competing in the car at the Phillip Island Classic this weekend — a five-day event which draws hundreds of historic race cars from across Australia and abroad.
Mr Williams said the rare car was driven by Australian racing legend Sir Jack Brabham.
The damage done to the clutch has put the vehicle out of the game for now, but Mr Williams said he had high hopes he would be able to get it back on the road.
He said he feels "very lucky" it was found.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the theft to come forward by contacting CrimeStoppers.
