Vic man killed before car set alight

A man found dead in the boot of his burnt out car in Melbourne was killed before the car was set on fire, police say.

Footscray man Kenan Balikel, 42, was found in the boot of his own car in Diggers Rest on Friday, just two days after his wife gave birth to their fifth child.

Victorian body in boot victim identified

Mr Balikel, who was identified using fingerprints over the weekend, was a used car dealer who bought vehicles at auction houses to later sell privately.

He owned the unregistered Peugeot that was set alight.

Homicide Squad detectives say they have no motive for the murder.

"He's only known to police through his car trading," Detective Senior Sergeant Stuart Bailey said on Monday.

"He has had a couple of offences in relation to his car dealing.

"I think they're handling stolen goods. Nothing too serious."

Police believe Mr Balikel was already dead when the car was set alight.

"The forensic testing and pathology show no carbon monoxide in his system and no sooting in his lungs which would strongly tend to indicate that he was dead before the fire," Det Sen Sgt Bailey said.

Mr Balikel was last seen in Freight Road in Tullamarine where he left his white Mercedes Sprinter van on Thursday afternoon.

The Peugeot was believed to be parked in the same area about 9pm on Thursday.

Mr Balikel's body was found in the vehicle about 12.20am (AEDT) on Friday.