Any truth to this Spitfire story?

[Chris Brame]

Saw this on the 24 Hours of Lemons auto racing forum:

Sounds Like a relationship gone bad! Woman took the car from cheating husband or something.
In San Jose at the airport there was a restored Air Force Spitfire That this Guy owned and cheated on his wife and she got the plane in the divorce. She had the plane moved Where it could be seen by her EX to drive by daily and let It rot away. Just salt in the wound it was his 20 year restore.

Never heard of this before - but a lot of crazy stories have a kernel of truth somewhere - like the thread this came from about a DeLorean abandoned in a forest!

http://forums.24hoursoflemons.com/viewt ... p?id=10313

[warbird2]

Sounds like it was actually the P-51 that Micky Rupp owns now. It sat in San Jose for 20 + years according to a magazine I read.

[bluehawk15]

P-51 makes more sense than an Air Force Spitfire.

[Tinker51]

Sounds like it was actually the P-51 that Micky Rupp owns now. It sat in San Jose for 20 + years according to a magazine I read.

Don't know about the story but the 51 in question did indeed sit outside on the ramp at KSJC for years.
Rumor always had it the owner either wouldn't sell or wanted too much for essentially a complete project.
Finally noticed it was gone a few years ago and was very glad to hear someone had managed to save it and it was under restoration.