The race car was stolen from a factory in Rowville. Source: Supplied
THE owner of a rare race car stolen from a factory in southeast Melbourne fears it has been shipped overseas in what appears to be an organised heist.
Jay Bondini was left devastated when he found the locks on the gates to his Rowville factory had been cut and his fully restored 1970 Rennmax race car worth $320,000 gone just before Christmas.
The car is believed to have been taken from the Henderson Rd premises between 11am on December 21 and 10am on December 22.
It is the only Rennmax vehicle in the world with the Repco Brabham engine, used by Sir Jack Brabham to win the world championship.
"I'm absolutely devastated," he said.
"The police think that there is little chance of getting it back in one piece and think it will be dumped and burnt."
Car lovers took to online motoring websites to express their outrage over the theft.
"It would be real tragic to all if its dumped and burnt," Neil Choi wrote on the Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum website.
Another wrote: "Very sad indeed. I do hope it turns up in one piece."
A trailer carrying the car was found in Cape Woolamai on Christmas Day. Source: Supplied
After a long racing history in the hands of Doug McArthur from 1970 to 1972, then Barry Norman Randall from 1972 to 1975, and the Gibson family from 1975 to 2011, Mr Bondini purchased the car and spent 12 months - and a lot of money - restoring it.
"It had been sitting for many years and it took a team of very talented, very good friends 12 months and a hell of a lot of money to rebuild the car to the state it is in," he said.
"This is the only one in the world with a Repco engine fitted and is very rare."
He said the car was stored in a trailer and was wedged between two other cars in the workshop, meaning the thieves would have had to drag the trailer sideways to remove it.
The trailer was found in Cape Woolamai, near Phillip Island on Christmas Day.
Mr Bondini urged anyone with information about the theft of his pride and joy to call police.
The race car cannot be registered and police have appealed for public help to find it.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppers.com.au.
rebekah.cavanagh@news.com.au
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