. >> reporter: fixing up his pontiac transam after it was stolen. >> when it was stolen, i was just devastated. >> reporter: investigators found the car a week after it was stolen, stripped of its parts. >> nothing on it. not even wheels. >> reporter: thieves cut the engine out of the car. it had what is called an ellis 1 motor. they've seen a spike in those types of car thefts. 2001 camaros topped the list. >> reporter: this is an ellis 1 motor. it's relatively small, but it's got a v8, so it's pretty powerful. also, versatile for thieves to sell online. >> a high mileage one on ebay for like $6,000. there's high demand for them. >> reporter: 237 cars with ellis 1 motors were stolen in california this year. more than 40% were stolen out of alameda county. investigators think the region's side show scene may be driving the trend. >> maybe part of that culture. if you're out drag racing your car on the weekend, and doing these stunts, and you blow your engine, you need a new motor. >>> speed is said to be the blame for the fiery crash that killed fast and furious actor paul walker and his frien

. >> reporter: fixing up his pontiac transam after it was stolen. >> when it was stolen, i was just devastated>> reporter: investigators found the car a week after it was stolen, stripped of its parts. >> nothing on it. not even wheels. >> reporter: thieves cut the engine out of the car. it had what is called an ellis 1 motor. they've seen a spike in those types of car thefts. 2001 camaros topped the list. >> reporter: this is an ellis 1 motor. it's relatively small, but it's got a v8, so it's pretty powerful. also, versatile for thieves to sell online. >> a high mileage one on ebay for like $6,000. there's high demand for them. >> reporter: 237 cars with ellis 1 motors were stolen in california this year. more than 40% were stolen out of alameda county. investigators think the region's side show scene may be driving the trend. >> maybe part of that culture. if you're out drag racing your car on the weekend, and doing these stunts, and you blow your engine, you need a new motor. >>> speed is said to be the blame for the fiery crash that killed fast and furious actor paul walker and his friend,

. >> 78 transam, 'coup shavelle. i bought motorcycles for the boys. won't. we would go out to the desert a lot, me and may family. that was my enjoyment. >> if someone were to look at your finances would they have said this couple is being irresponsible? >> at that time a financial analyst probably would have said you are irresponsible but the friends we were hanging out w h with, we were just part of the crowd. >> even so, tim was more responsible than many. >> money put away in savings. if anything happened, if i had enough money to last us a year to pay the bills. >> about $80,000 in savings. little did had know that they were living in the calm before an unpredicted super storm. the great recession was headed their way and their area, southern california, would take a direct hit. for the sandowskis it would be personal. her mom was about to find herself caught up in the deepening crisis. >> i want to keep my home! i have been here 27 years. [ male announcer ] some things are simply better at home. like the enticing aroma and distinctive taste of nespress