A rare vintage car that once belonged to Amelia Earhart went missing last week – but was found three days later parked on the street in a Los Angeles neighborhood.
The 1932 Hudson Essex Terraplane was discovered Monday night in El Sereno after it was reported stolen Friday, CBS Los Angeles reported.
Owner Jim Somers transported the green and black car from his shop on West Collins Avenue to an industrial complex in Orange ahead of a car show Saturday.
The car – which is one of 14 that still exist — was housed in a locked trailer when it was stolen.
It was recovered thanks to a tipster who saw CBS’ story and told police to check the distinct set of wheels to see if it was the same one.
It originally sold for as little as $425 for the Roadster model – but is said to now be worth between $250,000 to $500,000.
Earhart celebrated the debut of the Terraplane by cracking a bottle of gasoline on its chrome nose, according to Automobile Magazine. The aviation pioneer received the second one built. The first one went to Orville Wright.
Earhart and her navigator Frederick Noonan mysteriously vanished in 1937 near Howland Island in the Pacific. Earhart was attempting to become the first woman to circle the globe in an airplane. Their bodies were never found.