Otago Polytechnic services officer Mark Baxter thought he had seen the last of his red 1987 Toyota MR2 Mk1 sports car when it disappeared from a rented locked garage in North Dunedin last month.
But after an Otago Daily Times article about the theft, his pride and joy is now back.
However, the experience had left a slightly bitter taste, he said.
"I got a call from a colleague who had just bought an MR2 for parts for $160. He showed me the mobile phone number of the guy selling the car and, sure enough, it belonged to a teenager who lived across the road from me about four years ago, who I used to take along to my car club," he said.
"I feel pretty betrayed, actually, but I'd like to hear his side of the story."
Mr Baxter contacted police and went to Mosgiel, with a trailer, to reclaim the car, but even then his troubles were not over.
"On the way back, we got pulled over by a cop in Caversham Valley who had also seen the ODT article, and we had some explaining to do," he said.
"But I'm just delighted to have it back. If it wasn't for that article in the ODT, it would have been chopped up for parts. I'm not so pleased it went missing, but I'm very pleased to have it back."
The front spoiler was cracked and the engine had "a couple of knocks it didn't have before", but the car was otherwise undamaged, Mr Baxter said.
"It had been off the road for two years and I hadn't insured it, so it would have been a total loss."
Mr Baxter described himself as "a hobbyist mechanic" who owned seven cars.
"But only two of them are ever on the road at the same time," he said.
"Hopefully, I can get this one on the road now for summer."
