Thieves stole a classic car a man spent eight years restoring and left the charred remains of the vintage automobile in a nearby field.

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The blue Austin A35 was the first car Owen Lokuciejewski-Taylor, 25, bought when he was 17. He put about $2,500 into "Bessie" through the years, the Daily Mail reported.

The Austin A35 model was sold from 1956 to 1968.

“The last few days have just been a bit sad. I'm heartbroken, if I'm honest,” Lokuciejewski-Taylor told the Mail.

Thieves took off in the car around 6:30 a.m. Nov. 4, taking it from Lokuciejewski-Taylor's driveway, West Yorkshire police told the Mail.

Police recovered the car, and by 9:30 a.m., Lokuciejewski-Taylor was standing over its smoldering remains, the Mail reported.

Police are searching for the suspects.

Lokuciejewski-Taylor is upbeat.

"As so many people have said, 'You can't let idiots like those lads ruin your day,' so I look to the future and possibly to the next little Austin," he told the Mail.

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Helen Gilbert places flowers on her brother Eurie Martin’s grave at Camp Spring Baptist Church in Sandersville. Her brother died eight years ago. Three former Washington County deputies are accused of causing his death and are set to stand trial Monday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez