There's a container of precious metals dangling from the bottom of your car: your catalytic converter. They contain platinum, and its rising cost has caused a recent spike in converter theft, especially in the U.K. Not only does a missing cat let more pollution into the air, it also disables operation of the car in some cases. In an effort to combat this growing problem, Ford has partnered with Retainagroup to place individual serial numbers on converters. These IDs are intended to give law enforcement the ability to track down and prove whether individual converters were stolen or not. Want one? Visit your local U.K. Ford dealer with £11.87 in hand and you're all set.

[Source: Automotive Business Review]