Star Car Stolen Before Auto Show

BIRMINGHAM, England--Mitsubishi’s “Star Car” remains on the run after the showcase display vehicle was stolen prior to the public opening of the Autosports International Show at the NEC exhibition centre here.

The theft was attributed to “opportunist car thieves lurking at the venue” who swiped the high-performance 150 mph Galant VR4 saloon car, which was valued at $34,000 in English pounds. It was taken just after being unloaded from a vehicle transporter--but before the car could be moved into the exhibition hall. (Birmingham is in central England.)

Mitsubishi Motors UK said it has five other road and rally vehicles to display at the show, but the company made a public appeal to anyone with knowledge of the crime to report it to British bobbies.