A rare 1970s-era Mercedes-Benz C111 show car has gone on display at the company’s museum at Brooklands, but it almost didn’t make it.

According to reports from across The Pond, the truck transporting the vintage concept car from Germany to the UK was hijacked by criminals looking to make off with the C111. The attempt was thwarted, but though now repaired, significant damage was reportedly incurred to one of the showcar’s gullwing doors and to the front fender.

The C111 served as a rolling test bed for Mercedes during the 1960s and 70s, various versions having been outfitted with different engines – including turbos, diesels and even Wankels – securing a number of land speed records along the way.

The example transported to Brooklands, however, is but an empty shell with no engine, leaving observers to wonder just where the seemingly none-too-bright thieves thought they were going with the car.