John Travolta’s Benz Stolen in Los Angeles

Actor John Travolta got quite an unpleasant surprise over the weekend, when his classic Mercedes was jacked from its spot near a Jaguar dealership in Los Angeles.

Unfortunately for Travolta, it isn’t an easily replaceable off-the-lot model either. The Pulp Fiction actor had parked the ride near the car sales lot to do a bit of browsing, and returned about ten minutes later to find the vehicle stolen. Travolta left the vehicle at around 3:46 PM Sunday, and Santa Monica police would only confirm that the vehicle, registered to the star, was indeed stolen from that location.

The ride was a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL, and estimates place the classic car at between $50,000 and $100,000 in value. The thievery was an interesting choice on the part of the car thieves, as one would imagine a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL would be easy to spot and difficult to unload due to its uncommon profile on the street.

Travolta and his flak have not commented on the unfortunate incident, but the actor is no stranger to things that go- an avid pilot, Travolta has spoken of his love of cars and planes as a joint obsession. He said:

“I had to content myself with cars before I could ever contemplate owning a plane… My first, in 1974, was a 1962 Oldsmobile. I had some minor TV work, got paid and wanted to get on the road. It was a small step to what I wanted to achieve.”

But the actor has since collected some more notable vehicles- he commented back in 2007:

“I have a 55, 56 and 57 Thunderbird… American Fords in the great old tradition. I love the fact that they could achieve speed and distance with such style. I don’t use them for long journeys any more, but to just enjoy the drive.”

Travolta isn’t too bad off without his beloved Benz, however- he is also said to push a Rolls-Royce, Jaguar XJ6 and some vintage Thunderbirds.