A Ford Coupe built in 1936 has been returned to its rightful owner, after having been stolen just before Christmas Day last year, in Spokane Valley, Washington.

The vintage vehicle had been parked on the street right outside its owner's property at the time of the theft on December 21st but, unlike most classic cars which are taken, this one was able to be recovered by police.

A man was arrested after the authorities issued a warrant for the search of his home, where the car was discovered and recovered.

Classic cars can inspire real passion in their owners and the 1936 vintage Ford was no different. The owner and their family got involved in the search effort, offering rewards for information leading to the vehicle and contacting many members of the community in order to maximise the chances of finding it.

It seems that the thief was not intending to pass on the vehicle in its entirety to new owners, but was actually in the process of dismantling it, in order to harvest its parts. The value of vintage vehicle parts can be high, but for many owners their classic car is not for sale at any price.