The rally-spec Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI was locked, alarmed and the fuel pumps disconnected, so a determined thief would have had to have towed it away in the early hours.

“This is one very fast car – one of the fastest road cars around – and I can tell you that this old boy racer is heart-broken,” Mr Adams said today.

The highly identifiable car, with substantial United Future livery, featured prominently in the Auckland MP’s election campaign last year and was a common sight on North Shore streets.

“While no one likes being the victim of theft, I guess it is just another sign of where we are as a society, when there are people out there who think it is just fine to steal the property of others, rather than to work for something of their own,” Mr Adams said.

“United Future stands clearly behind values-based education, and doubtless the individual who stole my car would have benefited from that,” he said.

Ends.