The jewel on four wheels that suddenly disappeared from Ion Țiriac's collection. Huge value: “I don't know who stole it, I never sold it”
Ion Țiriac, 86 years old, spoke about one of the most valuable cars he had that was stolen from him. Known as a great car enthusiast, he explained that the vehicle was extremely rare and was specially built at his request.
Ion Țiriac Photo/Facebook
The car had the same type of engine as the model with which Lancia won the World Rally Championship in the 70s, which made it really special. Ion Țiriac said that precisely this connection with the history of rallies gave him a huge value.
The story was told at an important moment for Romanian motorsport, as Romania is also present at the current edition of the Monte Carlo Rally, which marks 90 years since Petre Cristea's historic victory.
“They had a Lancia tennis team in Turin. When they won the World Rally Championship, I asked them to make me a car too. My companion, Năstase, said: “What am I doing?” I fooled him, once again. He made me exactly the car that had won the Championship World.
“I don't know who stole it, I never sold it!”
That was the car that Eugen Ionescu Cristea had here. I don't know who stole it, I never sold it. He stole it from me, sold it to him, I don't know. I had the winning engine. Ilie had a normal engine, it seemed very fast. All he knew was to press the accelerator. He didn't really know how to brake. I'm sorry he's not here, he's busy.
The fact that so many people are here, my congratulations. I wish you all the best, take two watches each, if one breaks you can stop and pull right completely. The point there is accuracy, not speed!”declared Ion Țiriac, during an event that marked Romania's participation in Rallye Monte-Carlo, which will make its debut on January 29.
Romania will be represented in the competition by five crews, and one of them will include Călin Popescu Tăriceanu, 74 years old, former prime minister of the country between 2004 and 2008.
