THE rare classic Ford Falcon that was stolen during a carjacking in south western Sydney yesterday is valued at up to $100,000 but would be almost impossible for the thieves to sell.

A mechanic had stopped his partner’s XW Ford Falcon on the side of Cawdor Road in Camden last night to deal with engine problems when a white van with two men inside pulled up behind him.

One of the men from the van spoke with the Ford’s owner before pulling a gun and driving off with the car.

media_camera The driver had pulled over with engine problems when he the car was stolen. Picture: NSW Police Media

The car is believed to be a 1969 or 1970 starlight blue XW Ford Falcon and would be extremely difficult to offload in the classic car market.

Motoring enthusiast and NSW delegate of the National Association of GT Falcons Con Alexopoulos said such robberies of classic cars was rare these days after the industry exploded over the past decade.

“We haven’t heard of this happening now for the best part of 10 years, since the last time we heard of someone being followed or having their car taken off them,” he said.

media_camera The incident occurred on Cawdor Rd, Cawdor, just south of Camden.

“In probably the last 10 years the whole classic cars market has gone ahead in leaps and bounds where the whole rebirthing of these cars has (almost been) stamped out.”

Mr Alexopoulos said the value of classic cars such as the one stolen in the carjacking last night meant buyers were much more vigilant in ensuring the authenticity of their purchase.

“There’s a process when purchasing one of these cars — if it is a genuine GT Falcon and not just a Falcon that’s been turned into a replica,” he said.

People such as himself and other experts who understand the “DNA of the actual car” are called on to inspect them and weed out the fakes.

media_camera Allan Moffat driving the same type of car during the Sandown Three Hour in 1969.

The replica classic car market is booming, but it’s the genuine cars that demand the big dollars.

Only around 2000 XW Falcons were produced and only half would still be floating around, Mr Alexopoulos believes, making them a rare and desired model.

But such a popular hobby means that there is a constant need for genuine parts that are often hard to come by.

The rarity means there’s a premium placed on the price and the thieves could make a hefty sum from ripping apart the car.

“The genuine items are worth a ridiculous amount of money,” Mr Alexopoulos said.

“Things like the body and the engine block can’t be sold on because they’ve got numbers stamped in them, but you could pretty much pull everything else of the car — there could be $50,000 alone just in parts on the car.”

media_camera A 1969 Ford Falcon XW sedan.

Camden Police Inspector Michael Bright said the incident was ‘unusual’ and agreed that the thieves would have trouble selling the unique vehicle.

“You would not be able to sell it, I don’t know what they’re going to do with it,” Insp Bright said.

“They’re unique, there’s only a few of them around. You can’t show it, it’s an unusual incident.”

The offender was described as being of caucasian appearance and about 175cm tall. He was wearing a blue tracksuit with a blue hood.

Police have appealed for information to help find the classic car which has registration 53714H.

The four-door, five-seater sedan was rolled off the Ford Australia production line from 1969 to 1970 with other models like the Ford XY Falcon GT released until 1971.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.