Man finds his stolen car 42 years later

Bob Russell and his 1967 Austin Healy

Robert Russell never gave up home that one day who he would find his stolen car and it’s really amazing that the man find his car 42 years later.

The 1967 Austin Healy that he paid $3,000 for was stolen from right in front of his house in 1970.  Right after the second date with the woman who would become his wife.

Back then, he was living in Philadelphia and throughout the years he said that he would look at various online websites such as craigslist and ebay hoping to find his car.

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Even when he moved to Texas, he kept up his quest in the hopes of one day finding his long ago stolen car that had such a sentimental meaning to him.

After years and years of searching, he came across a car on ebay that he thought might be his.  The car was for sale at the Beverly Hills Car Club so he got in touch with them.

“I hate to sound indelicate,” Russell told the unsuspecting dealer, “but you’re selling a stolen car.” Russell had the car’s identification number, original key and car title but he did not have the stolen vehicle report.  He contacted he police in Philadelphia and they found it.  It took a bit because apparently one of the numbers on the VIN was entered wrong but ultimately it was located.

The car dealer involved allegedly tried to sell the stolen car back to Russell for $24,000. The Beverly Hills Car Club had purchased the car from an owner in New Jersey who had driven the car for nearly four decades.

Versa Manos, a spokesman for the Beverly Hills car Club ultimately released a statement.  She said,  “We are all very happy that Mr. Russell has gotten his car back. However, we are victims in this situation. We have lost $27,000, which is what we paid for the car, plus the cost to ship it to California.”

The story had a happy ending. The man finds his stolen car 42 years later and after paying a $1,500 impound fee plus transport fees,  Bob Russell has been happilty reunited with his classic car.

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