Man Gave Up His Camaro After Learning Wife Was Pregnant. 41 Years Later, Son Surprises Him with Restored Model

Mar. 15, 2025

More than 40 years after he sold his 1967 Marina blue Chevrolet Camaro to raise a family, a Texas man got a special gift from his son: a restored version of the vehicle.

Jared told NBC affiliateKXASthat he was looking for the “biggest, most symbolic [and] most outrageous way” to show his dad “how important he is to me and how good of a job he did being a dad.”

“And I’m like, what is the greatest thing possible? And it was the Camaro," he added. “It was always the Camaro.”

In aFacebook post, Jared wrote that 41 years ago, after his dad learned his wife was pregnant, he “made the decision to sell his beloved” car, “knowing the financial needs” ahead.

Over the years, the Camaro became a frequent topic of conversation between Earl, who has worked in the automotive business, and his son. “Anytime that we saw a Camaro, he would definitely bring it up,” Jared toldCBS Evening News. “The joke was, or the way that he just summed it all up, was that ‘I had to sell this car for your diaper money.’ "

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All jokes aside, Jared always knew just how special the car was to his dad.

“Even though he would never admit it,” he wrote in aFacebook post. “I knew deep down he loved that car more than any other he had ever owned.”

For years, Jared wanted to get the Camaro back for his dad, but even though he knew Earl sold the car for cash, he didn’t have the proof of sale.

Then in 2022, Jared got a lead about a Marina blue Camaro about 70 miles from home that needed repair work, KXAS reported.

After having the car secretly restored, Jared surprised Earl on his birthday. “He was just overcome,” Jared toldCBS Evening Newsof his dad’s reaction.

Jared also shared the reveal with his followers on Facebook.

“I’ve only seen my dad cry two times in my entire life. Dad only smiles, laughs and selflessly gives his best effort in the service of others," he wrote in an Oct. 20 post. “Tonight I saw him cry a third time, as he realized the car in parking lot that looked just like his old one, was actually his after all. He was shocked. He threw his arms around me.”

He went on to wrote that being able to surprises his dad with the car was one of the best moments of his entire life. “I love you Dad,” he added. “Thanks for the diaper money.”

source: people.com