Latest update. Simmons, after a lot of kerfuffle and delaying tactics, was finally persuaded to return the vehicle and it now resides safely at CCM Vettes. Unfortunately a cursory inspection, by Tom Falconer no less, reveals the car to be a very sorry state and, in Tom's words, a bit of a project which is at odds with the condition when I last saw it in March.
It would appear that it has been used as a spares source and items, such as gearbox, have been removed and are just laying on the seats which were freshly upholstered, assuming the original seats are still in the car. I suspect the gearbox may not be the original since there was never any reason to remove it in the first place and was definitely in situ when I last saw the car.
Apparently Simmons was saying, to Tom, that this was all my fault and that I cannot be trusted and don't do any business with me. So he's in denial it would seem.
Anyhow, we will make a full assessment next week and see where we go from there. It is likely that it will be uneconomic to do anything further and i may just have to sell it for spare parts and suck up the, considerable, losses. Heaven knows how many others have been affected but I know of at least three to whom I have passed on Simmons details, hope they have better luck that I.
Disappointingly the Police appear to have done nothing and I haven't heard from them during the month since the theft was reported and it has proven impossible to contact anyone to gain updates.