Wheeler Dealers Car Stolen: Was the Ford Fiesta Ever Found?
A car from the Wheeler Dealers team really was stolen, and no recovery has been announced. A blue 1979 Ford Fiesta Mk1 1300 S, restored by presenters Mike Brewer and Marc Priestley for the show’s 20th year, disappeared together with its covered trailer from a Premier Inn car park in Knottingley, West Yorkshire, between 11.30pm on 26 June 2023 and 8am the next morning. This guide sets out what the BBC, the Yorkshire Post and the show’s own channel reported, what is still unknown, and how to protect a loaded trailer.
Last checked 21 October 2026. The latest official coverage cited here is dated October 2023, so treat any claim of a later development as unconfirmed until the show or West Yorkshire Police says so.
What Actually Happened
Brewer told the BBC that the Fiesta was taken from outside the hotel where he was staying in Knottingley, late on Monday night or early on Tuesday morning. A covered trailer being used to store and transport the car was stolen from the car park between 23:30 BST on Monday and 08:00 BST on Tuesday. A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson told the Yorkshire Post that the theft was reported to have happened between 11.30pm on 26 June and 8am on 27 June, when it was reported to the police.
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The car was due to be the star attraction at the show’s Fiesta celebration near Leeds. Brewer said he believed the thieves may have specifically targeted the trailer, unaware the car was inside. That is his belief as reported by the BBC, not an established fact, and no source cited here names a suspect.
Timeline of the Reports
| Date | What was reported | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 26 June 2023, from 23:30 | Start of the window in which the trailer was taken from the Premier Inn car park, Knottingley | BBC News; West Yorkshire Police via Yorkshire Post |
| Tue 27 June 2023, by 08:00 | Theft reported to police; the presenters appeal on social media for help finding the car | BBC News, 27 June 2023 |
| Wed 28 June 2023 | Police spokesperson says enquiries are ongoing; Priestley says he is heartbroken | Yorkshire Post, 28 June 2023 |
| Mon 23 October 2023 | The show’s official channel publishes “Dude, Who Stole Our Ford Fiesta?!” from Season 18, Episode 1 | Wheeler Dealers YouTube channel |
The Car That Was Stolen: A 1979 Ford Fiesta Mk1 1300S
The BBC describes the car as a blue Mk1 Ford Fiesta 1300 S, first built in 1979, with a brown interior, fully restored. Brewer said the team had spent about 100 hours refurbishing it, and the Yorkshire Post gives the registration as JBY 10V and the colour as dark blue. Brewer described Mk1 Fiestas as iconic cars with very few left in the country.
The project had a purpose. The BBC says the Fiesta was meant to be the star of the show’s “Fiestaval” in Leeds, an event filmed for the series that drew hundreds of Fiesta fans and marked the end of the model after Ford announced in 2022 that it would stop making the Fiesta. The Yorkshire Post puts the event at The Motorist car cafe near Leeds, with about 500 other Fiestas, and notes that Wheeler Dealers was in its 20th year.
| Detail | What the reports say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Car | Blue 1979 Ford Fiesta Mk1 1300 S, brown interior, fully restored | BBC News |
| Registration | JBY 10V | BBC News; Yorkshire Post |
| Restoration effort | About 100 hours of refurbishment by the team | BBC News |
| Where it was kept | A covered trailer in the Premier Inn car park, Knottingley | BBC News; Yorkshire Post |
| Planned appearance | The show’s Fiesta event near Leeds, with about 500 other Fiestas | Yorkshire Post; BBC News |
| Police response | Investigating; enquiries ongoing as of 28 June 2023 | BBC News; Yorkshire Post |
Mike Brewer and Marc Priestley’s Response
Both presenters went public within hours. Brewer said the team had “built the best MK1 Ford Fiesta in this country” and were heartbroken and gutted by the theft. He also said that the car would now be hot property and that the last thing the team wanted was for it to be dumped and burnt out; they hoped to get it back in a good state (BBC News, 27 June 2023).
In a social media post quoted by the Yorkshire Post on 28 June 2023, Brewer urged people to share pictures of the car so the classic car community could help find the trailer and the car. Priestley said the car deserved to be seen by the world, not hidden away on a thief’s trailer.
Police Investigation
West Yorkshire Police said it was investigating the theft, and a spokesperson said enquiries were ongoing as of 28 June 2023. Neither the BBC report nor the Yorkshire Post report gives suspect descriptions, arrests or other investigative detail.
If you have information about a stolen vehicle in the UK, GOV.UK says to call 999 if a crime is in progress and 101 otherwise, or to report online. You can also give information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 (GOV.UK: report a crime).
Has the Wheeler Dealers Stolen Car Been Found?
No recovery has been announced in the coverage cited here, which runs from June to October 2023. The table separates what the sources confirm from what they leave open.
| Question | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Has the Fiesta been recovered? | No recovery is reported in the BBC, Yorkshire Post or official channel material |
| Has anyone been arrested? | No arrest or suspect is reported; police said enquiries were ongoing on 28 June 2023 |
| Where was the hotel? | Premier Inn, Knottingley. The BBC headline says Wakefield, while its text and the Yorkshire Post say Knottingley |
| Why was the trailer taken? | Brewer believes the trailer may have been the target; this is not confirmed |
| Was a reward offered? | No reward amount appears in the BBC or Yorkshire Post reports |
Because this is a news story, check the show’s official channels and West Yorkshire Police for any later update.
Where the Show Tells the Story
The show’s official YouTube channel published “Dude, Who Stole Our Ford Fiesta?!” on 23 October 2023, a clip of about seven minutes from Season 18, Episode 1. Its description says Mike and Elvis celebrate 20 years of Wheeler Dealers by restoring one of Britain’s favourite small autos, the Ford Fiesta, but that disaster strikes when the trailer storing it is stolen the day before a meet-up with Fiesta owners.
Why a Stolen Trailer Is a Different Problem From a Stolen Car
In this case nobody broke into the Fiesta. According to the BBC, the whole covered trailer, which was being used to store and transport the car, was taken from the car park with the car inside. Brewer told the BBC he believed the thieves may have targeted the trailer without knowing the car was in it. For a car carried on a trailer, the trailer is therefore the part to think about securing.
One option is a coupler lock. The Master Lock listing above describes a lock for 1-7/8 inch, 2 inch and most 2-5/16 inch trailer couplers, with a locking mechanism that resists picking and prying and easy installation and removal. Check your own coupler size against the listing before buying.
Keeping Records and Getting Advice
- Know the car’s details. The BBC and the Yorkshire Post both published the registration of the stolen Fiesta, and the BBC used photos supplied by Mike Brewer. Keep your own registration and photos of your car to hand.
- Ask your insurer how your policy treats a car carried on a trailer. For background see whether theft is covered in car insurance.
- Read our related guides on installing a GPS tracker, car trackers for theft prevention and steering wheel locks.
What to Do If Your Car or Trailer Is Stolen
GOV.UK says to call 999 if a crime is in progress and 101 otherwise, or to report online, and that Crimestoppers takes anonymous reports on 0800 555 111 (GOV.UK: report a crime). Our guides on finding a stolen car and reporting a stolen car anonymously cover the next steps, and the recovery process explains what follows if a car is found.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Wheeler Dealers get their stolen Ford Fiesta back?
No recovery has been announced. The BBC report of 27 June 2023 and the Yorkshire Post report of 28 June 2023 describe the theft and the police investigation, and the show’s official channel presented the story in a clip published on 23 October 2023, with the trailer described as stolen. None of that coverage reports the car being found.
Was the Wheeler Dealers stolen Ford Fiesta ever found?
Not according to the official and news coverage cited here, which runs from June to October 2023. No later official update is cited here.
What car was stolen from Wheeler Dealers?
A blue 1979 Ford Fiesta Mk1 1300 S with a brown interior, fully restored by presenters Mike Brewer and Marc Priestley. The BBC and the Yorkshire Post both give its registration as JBY 10V.
When and where was the Wheeler Dealers car stolen?
From the car park of the Premier Inn in Knottingley, West Yorkshire, between 11.30pm on Monday 26 June 2023 and 8am on Tuesday 27 June 2023, according to the BBC and a West Yorkshire Police spokesperson quoted by the Yorkshire Post.
Was the Fiesta broken into, or was the whole trailer stolen?
The whole trailer. The BBC reports that the covered trailer used to store and transport the car was taken from the car park. Mike Brewer told the BBC he believed the thieves may have targeted the trailer without knowing the car was inside.
Was the Wheeler Dealers car theft real or part of the show?
It was reported to the police as a real crime. West Yorkshire Police said it was investigating, as reported by the BBC and the Yorkshire Post. The show’s official channel later published the story as Season 18, Episode 1.
Did Mike Brewer offer a reward for the stolen Fiesta?
No reward amount appears in the BBC or Yorkshire Post reports of 27 and 28 June 2023. The presenters’ public appeal asked people to share pictures of the car and help find the trailer.
What This Guide Does Not Cover
- Anything after October 2023: no later official statement from the show or West Yorkshire Police is cited.
- Insurance or legal advice: ask your insurer or a solicitor.
- Which hitch or coupler type your own trailer uses: check the trailer’s manual or its maker.
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