UK UK- David McMenigall, 55, vintage car enthusiast, bludgeoned to death w. Ford Mustang emblem, Edinburgh, Scotland, 24 Feb. 1966 *Fresh initiative*

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  • #1
By Rachel Mackie 19th Mar 2023
''On the morning of February 25, 1966, 55-year-old David McMenigall's body was found at his rented bungalow in Glasgow Road in Corstorphine. On the night that he was killed, he dined alone at a Frederick Street restaurant, L’Aperitif, an iconic restaurant in 1950s and ‘60s Edinburgh for writers and artists.

He was spotted heading home around 9.30 pm that night, and police appealed for help tracing a black Hillman car, made between 1947 and 1949, which was seen in the area on the night of the murder, but were unsuccessful. At the time of his death, detectives confirmed that they were investigating a break in at Mr McMenigall’s home two months earlier on Christmas Day.''

''Police Scotland do not consider a case closed until it's solved, so anybody with any information can still come forward. To provide officers with information, you can call 101, or phone Crimestoppers Scotand on 0800 555111, where you can remain anonymous.''

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Victim: David McMenigall was well-known in Edinburgh
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The image used in 'pony' appeal
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David's Glasgow Road home
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Car lover David's Jaguar in the driveway of his home

2016 by Jane Hamilton
''A RARE car mascot could be the key to solving a 50-year-old murder – and it’s still out there somewhere.

The metal horse emblem – typically used on classic Ford Mustangs – was taken from the home of David McMenigall on the night he was murdered.


We can now reveal police believe it was used to kill 55-year-old David, who was found dead by his housekeeper in his Edinburgh home on February 24, 1966.''

''The company director – who owned a refrigeration firm – had suffered severe head injuries including a fractured skull.
Detectives believed the classic car enthusiast had possibly disturbed a burglar at the house in Glasgow Road.''

''Almost three months after the murder, it was established the horse mascot, which would sit on the front bumper of a car, was missing along with a heavy signet ring which had the initials DM on it.”

David was well-known in the city as a man-about-town.

“He loved to party and was quite wealthy. His second marriage had broken up about four years before his death and he was often seen dining in the city centre and sometimes in the company of young women.''

A blacksmith’s son, David started his career selling fridges before becoming a manager and then starting his own company. On the night he died, he dined alone at L’Aperitif restaurant in Frederick Street, a regular haunt and a well-known glamorous establishment in the 50 and 60s famed for Edinburgh’s assortment of writers and creative types.

David was last seen heading home alone around 9.30pm and his body wasn’t discovered until the following morning by his housekeeper.

At the time, friends described David as “living it up” and said he had “lived life to the full”.


''Detectives revealed they wanted to trace a man who asked for directions from a dog walker in Gylemuir Park – just a few hundred yards from the murder scene. They also wanted to find the owner of a black Hillman Minx saloon car which was made between 1947 and 1949.''
 
  • #2
A Ford Mustang would be quite a rare sight in the UK in 1966 having been launched 2 years earlier. . Also the Hillman Minx. Could the Mustang emblem have been made into a belt buckle? It's not the sort of thing a criminal generally has in his pocket for a weapon
 
  • #3
A Ford Mustang would be quite a rare sight in the UK in 1966 having been launched 2 years earlier. . Also the Hillman Minx. Could the Mustang emblem have been made into a belt buckle? It's not the sort of thing a criminal generally has in his pocket for a weapon
It appears that David drove a Jaguar, not a Ford Mustang, the night of his murder - as seen in the photo of it parked in front of the garage.

The pictured horse emblem is not like any Ford Mustang emblem I have ever seen. In fact, the Ford Mustang emblem was something seen in the center of the car's grill and on the rear gas cap, as well as on the front side fenders. The horse emblem shown in the original post is more like an older auto hood ornament, perhaps something that a horse-riding enthusiast might put on his car or truck to customize it.


1965 Ford Mustang | American Muscle CarZ

1965 Ford Mustang
 
  • #4
Lot 16 - 1947 Hillman Minx DHC - NO RESERVE

1947 Hillman Automobile, similar to one being sought by investigators following the murder.
 
  • #5
It appears that David drove a Jaguar, not a Ford Mustang, the night of his murder - as seen in the photo of it parked in front of the garage.

The pictured horse emblem is not like any Ford Mustang emblem I have ever seen. In fact, the Ford Mustang emblem was something seen in the center of the car's grill and on the rear gas cap, as well as on the front side fenders. The horse emblem shown in the original post is more like an older auto hood ornament, perhaps something that a horse-riding enthusiast might put on his car or truck to customize it.


1965 Ford Mustang | American Muscle CarZ

1965 Ford Mustang

Yeah, it’s really weird.

The thing they showed doesn’t look like a Mustang logo.

Their description of where it sits on the car isn’t accurate.

The actual Mustang chrome pony is nowhere near big/heavy enough to kill someone with.

The Mustang was basically a brand new US car model in 1966 (not even sure if they were being imported to the UK at that point) and so it would be incredibly odd for someone in the UK to have random parts, especially someone who didn’t own a Mustang.

Like, this thing they’re looking for is not a Ford Mustang emblem.
 

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