A Sydney grandfather has been left heartbroken after his collector's edition Holden GTS - valued at NZ$133,000 - was stolen from right in front of him by a thief posing as a Facebook Marketplace buyer.
Stephen Buttigieg was showing the car in Sydney's Bonnyrigg Heights to a man posing as a potential buyer named Brendon.
The well-dressed man showed up on foot, inspected the car, and then said, "I think your boot light's coming on".
As Buttigieg walked around to check, the man popped the boot and sped off - leaving Buttigieg in shock.
"I just froze. I couldn't believe he'd done that," he said.
"Like he was such a nice person, he said he worked in a car yard, that he's got money."
What made the loss even more devastating: the car had been meticulously preserved - always locked in a garage and never driven - and was not insured.
Buttigieg had hoped selling the car would help his sons get into their first home.
"People work hard, you try to help your kids, and this is what happens," he said.
New South Wales Police have been notified of the theft and said they are searching for the suspect and the vehicle.
SHARE ME