Heat on thieves who took prized car

Mark Gundesen spent $70,000 and years of his life rebuilding the car with a mate.

An Auckland man has launched a publicity blitz in a bid to recover his prized custom-built vehicle.

Mark Gundesen, 28, is offering a $10,000 reward for the recovery of the 1976 Mazda 929 intact.

Mr Gundesen has had difficulty sleeping since the vehicle was stolen but he is determined to flush out the thieves with pressure - or the lure of financial reward.

He said he had spent $70,000 on parts and years of his life rebuilding the vehicle with his friend Jason Hiku.

The Mazda was stolen from Mr Hiku's Otahuhu business, Alfrey Motors, early on Thursday last week. Thieves smashed through at least four locks and a resident saw them using another car to push the Mazda down Marjory Jayne Cres.

A security guard arrived 15 minutes after the workshop alarm was activated, but the thieves had gone.

Police are investigating, but Mr Gundesen has distributed thousands of posters as part of his campaign to recover the Mazda.

"There is definitely a lot of heat on [the thieves] at the moment and that's what we want to do - keep the heat on."

Posters have been placed in service stations along Great South Rd between Otahuhu and Drury and at dozens of car-related businesses.

Flyers have also been handed to car enthusiasts, including people at illegal street racing meetings and last weekend's Waikaraka Speedway meeting.