Rare Austin Healey 1955 sports car worth £100,000 stolen from garage in Chelsea. Image: Met Police

The Met Police are appealing for witnesses to help track down a classic blue convertible Austin Healey given to its owner as a 50th birthday present.

The car was stolen from the victim’s garage on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, 24 December.

Owner owner Pascal Maeter said:

When I was given this car it had not been used for 40 years. It looked good from 20 metres, but when you got up close you saw that it needed a great deal of work. It took me many months to get it back to being a beautiful and working machine. I really hope the public can help; it was not just an ordinary car to me! This was a much loved gift, one of a special production and restoring it was a labour of love.

Detective Constable Joe de Vere of Kensington & Chelsea police said:

The car is very distinctive and extremely rare. This is the sort of car that people would notice and for that reason it has probably been stored off-road, but it will need to be moved eventually. I would ask the public to remember what it looks like and call police if they see it.

Any witnesses or people with information on the car’s whereabouts are asked to contact Kensington and Chelsea police on 020 8246 0231. Please quote reference number 5621651/14, or if the vehicle is seen, call 999.