One of the world’s most famous cars, the turquoise Ford Anglia used in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, has been stolen from outside a Cornwall film studio.

Devon and Cornwall police said they were keeping an open mind about whether the car was stolen to order for a collector, or was taken by an opportunistic thief. PC Terry Hodgson said the car had been parked at the side of the road under a tarpaulin for around a year.

But the crime has puzzled film memorabilia experts, who say it will be impossible to sell the 1962 Anglia to a film collector on the open market.

Ted Owen, of Cooperowen, the largest film and rock music auctioneers in the world, said there was a huge demand for Potter memorabilia.

Mr Owen, who once sold Lady Penelope’s car from the film Thunderbirds for £85,000 said the Harry Potter car could fetch a huge sum if legitimately sold.

A Skoda, which was used in the U2 video for Achtung Baby was sold for £6,000. Mr Owen said: “A Harry Potter car could fetch in the region of £20,000 at an entertainment auction.

“I have sold wands which have been used in a Harry Potter film for £1,500.”

But he added: “You couldn’t sell something which had been stolen at an auction, it could only be sold privately.”

Originally taken to South West Studios for an exhibition of film memorabilia, the car had been abandoned there when the studios went into liquidation.

Posted: 10|29|05 at 8:37 am. Filed under: UK News.