 Stolen 914 found after 8 years, Local news article |
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| RAX914 |
 May 16 2015, 01:33 PM
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#1
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Member  Group: Members Posts: 99 Joined: 20-August 14 From: California Member No.: 17,801 Region Association: None 
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Makes you wonder why is was stolen in the first place, it wasn't driven and it wasn't parted out:
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_2812473...ght-years-later |
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| dlkawashima |
May 16 2015, 01:39 PM
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#2
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 9,749 Joined: 1-October 10 From: San Jose Member No.: 12,234 Region Association: Northern California |
Santa Cruz woman finds her stolen Porsche eight years later
By Calvin Men - Santa Cruz Sentinel  May 15--SANTA CRUZ -- Michele Benson is a car person. Cars, she said, have a bit of a soul and need to be respected. So in 2007, when someone stole her 1976 Porsche 914 out of her driveway in Santa Cruz, it was akin to losing a loved one. But eight years after the car was pilfered, she received a notice: A dealership in the central valley town of Oakdale had her car. "It's a love story," said Benson, an entertainment photographer. "The car was definitely looking for me and somehow she found me." And a whirlwind affair it was. The dealership, about a 120-mile drive east of Santa Cruz, acquired the car after it was towed from a nearby farm. The car was among 10 abandoned cars on the farm and among three that were towed from the farm to the lot.  When the car was stolen in 2007, Benson was in the middle of various projects in her life. She was working on a feature film, working at a renaissance fair, in the middle of installing an art project at a downtown Santa Cruz bar, trying to raise a daughter and moving out of her home. The theft came during the move. She packed boxes and bags into the family's second car to take to their new home and when she returned for her Porsche, it was gone. "I had a lot on my plate. I did go to the DMV and speak with them and California Highway Patrol," Benson said. "But there's not a whole lot they can do when a car is stolen. Over a period of time, I just kind of said, 'Ouch, she's gone.'" Benson said she resigned herself to the idea that the car was gone. So she didn't quite believe it when she got the notice. "I got teary-eyed and said, 'Oh my God they found my car.' But my husband said he couldn't believe it,'" Benson said. But a three-drive hour later, Benson stood in front of her car, a shabby version of what she remembered. The fabric to the seat was torn. The car's top was weathered and the white body that once shown brightly was showing signs of rust. "She's got problems. She needs some work here and Botox isn't going to fix her," Benson said. Whoever stole the car didn't drive it much. "When she was taken, I had 90,000 (miles) and change on her. That's what she has on her now." The car is at her husband's auto shop, Hayes European, on 17th Avenue in Live Oak. Benson said she isn't sure of repair costs. But she said she plans to restore the car to its full glory. "Any car that works that hard for that many years to get back to me, she has my complete devotion." "It's a love affair that's not going to stop here."  |
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| pilothyer |
May 16 2015, 01:46 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 838 Joined: 21-May 08 From: N. Alabama Member No.: 9,080 Region Association: South East States |
Good to hear.................Looks to me like Michele weathered much better than the poor car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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| Ian Stott |
May 16 2015, 01:58 PM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 907 Joined: 28-January 08 From: Moncton/Canada Member No.: 8,635 Region Association: Canada |
Glad you got your car back! Glad you are gonna restore it! Great story, thanks for sharing. With that kind of history I think it will become a family heirloom and the kids can tell this unique and rare story.
Ian Stott Moncton Canada (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) |
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| Cairo94507 |
May 16 2015, 02:45 PM
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#5
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Michael Group: Members Posts: 9,796 Joined: 1-November 08 From: Auburn, CA Member No.: 9,712 Region Association: Northern California
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Wow- Congratulations- Happy ending! I am glad she got her car back. Note to self: Figure out what to do so that if my car is ever taken I can find it immediately!
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| tomrev |
May 16 2015, 03:34 PM
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#6
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Member Group: Members Posts: 231 Joined: 25-February 14 From: N. Mich. Member No.: 17,037 Region Association: None |
The right kind of gal to have a 914!
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| r_towle |
May 16 2015, 03:52 PM
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#7
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Custom Member Group: Members Posts: 24,584 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Taxachusetts Member No.: 124 Region Association: North East States
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Very cool story. I hope someone drops by the shop in a 914 and tells her to join our club for lots of friends and help sourcing parts for the restoration.
Rich |
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| 914bub |
May 16 2015, 04:05 PM
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#8
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Member Group: Members Posts: 433 Joined: 16-August 13 From: Modesto CA. Member No.: 16,260 Region Association: None |
QUOTE(r_towle @ May 16 2015, 02:52 PM)  Very cool story. I hope someone drops by the shop in a 914 and tells her to join our club for lots of friends and help sourcing parts for the restoration. Rich Interesting you'd say that. I lived in Santa Cruz until last summer so as I started to read the story I was intrigued. I read further and realized the car was found near me,(Oakdale). I now live in Modesto. I read even further and was blown away. I know her husband, (John Hayes),owner of Hayes European, personally and used to work with him at a Volvo shop in Santa Cruz,(Valle European). I will call John Monday and try to get more info,including the VIN or ask him or her to join our community. It IS a small world,...... after all! |
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| Valy |
May 16 2015, 04:50 PM
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#9
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,676 Joined: 6-April 10 From: Sunnyvale, CA Member No.: 11,573 Region Association: Northern California |
QUOTE(Cairo94507 @ May 16 2015, 01:45 PM) Wow- Congratulations- Happy ending! I am glad she got her car back. Note to self: Figure out what to do so that if my car is ever taken I can find it immediately! Paint it gold. White makes them go missing for a long time. |
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| Jeffs9146 |
May 16 2015, 06:00 PM
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#10
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Ski Bum Group: Members Posts: 4,062 Joined: 10-January 03 From: Discovery Bay, Ca Member No.: 128 |
QUOTE(914bub @ May 16 2015, 03:05 PM) QUOTE(r_towle @ May 16 2015, 02:52 PM) Very cool story. I hope someone drops by the shop in a 914 and tells her to join our club for lots of friends and help sourcing parts for the restoration. Rich Interesting you'd say that. I lived in Santa Cruz until last summer so as I started to read the story I was intrigued. I read further and realized the car was found near me,(Oakdale). I now live in Modesto. I read even further and was blown away. I know her husband, (John Hayes),owner of Hayes European, personally and used to work with him at a Volvo shop in Santa Cruz,(Valle European). I will call John Monday and try to get more info,including the VIN or ask him or her to join our community. It IS a small world,...... after all! Didn't Valle European used to be Valle Volvo? If so do you know Mike Saccone? |
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| 914bub |
May 16 2015, 08:00 PM
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#11
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Member Group: Members Posts: 433 Joined: 16-August 13 From: Modesto CA. Member No.: 16,260 Region Association: None |
QUOTE(Jeffs9146 @ May 16 2015, 05:00 PM) QUOTE(914bub @ May 16 2015, 03:05 PM) QUOTE(r_towle @ May 16 2015, 02:52 PM) Very cool story. I hope someone drops by the shop in a 914 and tells her to join our club for lots of friends and help sourcing parts for the restoration. Rich Interesting you'd say that. I lived in Santa Cruz until last summer so as I started to read the story I was intrigued. I read further and realized the car was found near me,(Oakdale). I now live in Modesto. I read even further and was blown away. I know her husband, (John Hayes),owner of Hayes European, personally and used to work with him at a Volvo shop in Santa Cruz,(Valle European). I will call John Monday and try to get more info,including the VIN or ask him or her to join our community. It IS a small world,...... after all! Didn't Valle European used to be Valle Volvo? If so do you know Mike Saccone? Yes, It was Valle Volvo originally.It was down on Corral street in Santa Cruz and later moved to Soquel and became Valle European when Joe Valle started working on BMW and Benz's as well. I have met mike only once, long ago but it's one of those "everybody I know knows him" type of things. A lot of my friends worked with him. I worked for Joe Valle twice. Once in the 90's when Joe was still married to Karen and everything was still run "above board" and once after the divorce when everything was run into the ground. |
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| balljoint |
May 16 2015, 08:10 PM
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#12
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 10,000 Joined: 6-April 04 Member No.: 1,897 Region Association: None |
QUOTE(Valy @ May 16 2015, 06:50 PM) QUOTE(Cairo94507 @ May 16 2015, 01:45 PM) Wow- Congratulations- Happy ending! I am glad she got her car back. Note to self: Figure out what to do so that if my car is ever taken I can find it immediately! Paint it gold. White makes them go missing for a long time. Yes. Please paint it gold. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hands.gif) |
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| Jeffs9146 |
May 16 2015, 08:36 PM
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#13
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Ski Bum Group: Members Posts: 4,062 Joined: 10-January 03 From: Discovery Bay, Ca Member No.: 128 |
I spent many hours at the shop on Corral St in the late 70's and early 80's. Mike and I spent a bunch of time working on his Volvo ITA, ITB and GT3 race cars. Joe always let me work on my 914 after hours. That's where I learned to weld.
The good old days!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) |
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| 914bub |
May 16 2015, 09:30 PM
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#14
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Member Group: Members Posts: 433 Joined: 16-August 13 From: Modesto CA. Member No.: 16,260 Region Association: None |
QUOTE(Jeffs9146 @ May 16 2015, 07:36 PM) I spent many hours at the shop on Corral St in the late 70's and early 80's. Mike and I spent a bunch of time working on his Volvo ITA, ITB and GT3 race cars. Joe always let me work on my 914 after hours. That's where I learned to weld. The good old days!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) That's super cool. I liked working for Joe but it was better when Karen was in charge. Yep,good old days indeed! |
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| pete000 |
May 16 2015, 10:12 PM
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#15
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,885 Joined: 23-August 10 From: Bradenton Florida Member No.: 12,094 Region Association: South East States |
Is the Vin in the data base?
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| EdwardBlume |
May 17 2015, 02:20 AM
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#16
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 12,338 Joined: 2-January 03 From: SLO Member No.: 81 Region Association: Central California
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I hope this is indeed a happy ending. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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| forrestkhaag |
May 17 2015, 09:48 AM
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#17
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 935 Joined: 21-April 14 From: Scottsdale, Arizona Member No.: 17,273 Region Association: Southwest Region |
After my first 914 was jacked for theft in Tulsa in th e late 70's , I installed a four switch series in concert with the ignition circuit / if the four little toggles were not flipped in the proper series, the starter motor would crank but no spark.. Can be done with one switch hidden as well.
Remember: Thieves are a lazy bunch choosing to steal rather than work for things....... That type of individual will go to the next easy target rather than sit there until the car's owner returns from the batting cages..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) |
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| sixnotfour |
May 17 2015, 11:32 AM
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#18
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 10,433 Joined: 12-September 04 From: Life Elevated..planet UT. Member No.: 2,744 Region Association: Rocky Mountains 
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it sat untouched, because its a 76 ,, lucky someone didn't slap an early vin on it and keep on driving it...
...Great 914 story... |
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| Dave_Darling |
May 17 2015, 11:47 AM
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#19
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 14,990 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California
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I met them today at the swap meet. Nice couple!
--DD |
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| Mike Bellis |
May 17 2015, 01:11 PM
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#20
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Resident Electrician Group: Members Posts: 8,345 Joined: 22-June 09 From: Midlothian TX Member No.: 10,496 Region Association: None
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QUOTE(Dave_Darling @ May 17 2015, 10:47 AM) I met them today at the swap meet. Nice couple! --DD Yep, I told Michelle to check out this site. Perhaps she will... |
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