"Everyone told me it wouldn't be seen again," he said.
"I never believed I would get a racing car like this - the car is very special to me. I built it up from a bit of wreckage - and the car has a big history. Everyone remembers it from the 60s."
The car was reportedly used as the getaway car in the Great Train Robbery by driver Roy 'The Weasel' James.
It is also believed Kiwi Formula One driver Denny Hulme drove it before it was passed on to another racing legend, Graham McRae.
In 1987 Rapley got his hands on the car, spending hours making it roadworthy.
But 30 years later his prized possession was stolen.
It is also believed Kiwi Formula One driver Denny Hulme drove the famous car before being passed onto racing legend Graham McRae. Photo / NZ Police
Although the car is no longer driveable, Rapley says he's very pleased to have it back.
"She's certainly had one hell of a ride."
The Great Train Robbery of 1963:
The Great Train Robbery was the robbery of £2.6 million from a Royal Mail train heading from Glasgow to London on the West Coast Main Line in Buckinghamshire, England in the early hours of August 1963.
After having tampered with the lineside signals to bring the train to a halt, a 15-strong gang of robbers attacked the train.
With careful planning the robbers escaped with over £2.6 million (equivalent to £50m today). The bulk of the stolen money was never recovered.
Former racing driver Roy James was the getaway driver during the famous robbery.
