A Dundee car enthusiast is offering a reward for the return of a missing original hubcap from his vintage car.
Pete Sinclair was driving his 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air when he heard what he now thinks may have been the piece becoming detached but as he did not immediately see anything untoward, he assumed it was not from his car and continued driving.
However, upon arriving home from his son’s garage on Blake Place, where he keeps his car collection, he noticed that one of the hub caps was missing.
He searched from his Garten Street home to his son’s garage , including looking in people’s gardens, but was unable to find it.
He is now appealing for anyone that may have come across it and not realise its value, to return it.
Mr Sinclair does not suspect that whoever found it has stolen it, but rather that “it’s on some kid’s wall as it would make quite a nice memento”.
“It would be good to get it back,” he said. “The car doesn’t look good without it.
“It’s quite distinctive as it is an original. You can buy new ones online, but they only come in sets of four and I would really like the original if possible.
“They’d be sent from America, but I’d rather not do that. I have put out ads online to see if anyone has a spare one as well, in case I can’t get the original one back.
“They were an important aspect to the car as they were the original hub caps and haven’t been replaced.
“It’s a bit of a long shot to ask if anyone has it, but it’s worth a shot. If they are returned and are damaged then I will have to consider what I am going to do then.
“I am prepared to offer a small reward for whoever returns it.”
Mr Sinclair, who retired from the fire service in 2005, has already got his daughter to issue an appeal online for its return.
The 63-year old had taken the car out from his son’s garage to take it to a mechanic in Leven.
Among Mr Sinclair’s collection is a vintage Morris Minor, as well as the Chevrolet.
Mr Sinclair, who has lived in Broughty Ferry for almost 40 years, asked anyone who has the hub cap to call him on 01382 778381.
