Papa John's founder reunited with his 1971 Camaro for $250,000.

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Didn't think this was worthy of the Auto News section, so I put it here.

Ap News
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the help of a $250,000 reward, the founder of the Papa John’s pizza chain has finally reunited with the muscle car he sold years ago to help keep his family’s business afloat.

John Schnatter sold the gold-and-black 1971 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 for $2,800 in 1983. The money helped save his father’s tavern in Jeffersonville, Ind., and he used the rest to start what would become a worldwide pizza business.

But he still missed his beloved Camaro and spent years searching for it. He created a Web site on the search, held promotional appearances and eventually offered $250,000 to whoever found it.
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It turns out he didn’t have to leave Kentucky, where the pizza chain is based in Louisville. The car only changed hands twice from the original buyers, ending up with Jeffery Robinson in Flatwoods, about 165 miles to the east.

“When I first saw it I still wanted to look it over to make sure it was the car even though I knew it,” Schnatter told The Associated Press. “That kind of hit me emotionally. I was kind of numb.”

The original buyers of Schnatter’s car heard about the search when he appeared in a TV interview before an NFL game this month. An online search led them to the car blog Jalopnik, which has followed the search and tipped off Papa John’s.

Robinson, who bought the car about five years ago for $4,000, recently delivered the Camaro to Schnatter, earning the $250,000 reward. The original buyers will get $25,000 for their help tracking it down.

Schnatter says it looks very much the same as it did when he sold it in 1983, but with a larger motor and fatter tires for drag racing.

The car will be displayed at the company headquarters in Louisville, replacing a replica Schnatter commissioned while he searched for his original car.

In honor of the reunion, Papa John’s planned to offer all Camaro owners a free pizza at stores on Wednesday.

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Pretty interesting, I'd never pay that for a Camaro like this one, though if you have the money and the car has personal value to you, spend away. I'm sure most people, or familys have had a car that they wish they never parted with. Camaro owners get a free Pizza as well, so Camaro FTW!
 
It really does almost feel like a reunion of two people. Great story, and I'm very happy for him.

P.S. I don't own a Camaro, but can I get something for just liking the car? How about free ice water for Altima owners?
 
I'm wondering how they verify the Camaro ownership? Show the title? Have to drive it to the store? Keys could be aftermarket. 2010 owners should get free cheese bread haha.
 
LSX
I'm wondering how they verify the Camaro ownership? Show the title?
I'd imagine VIN.

Glad to see all those pizzas I've purchased have gone to good use!
 
In celebration of Schnatter finding his Camaro, Papa John’s will offer a free large, one-topping pizza on Wednesday, August 26, 2009, to Camaro owners. To redeem, Camaro owners must arrive at their nearby Papa John’s restaurant in their Camaro to order and pick up their free pizza. Limit one pizza per Camaro, and one visit per Camaro.


This was copied from papa john's website
 
I'll never eat his pizza, but it's nice to see he's a car dude with a very nice ride. 👍
 
So if the Camaro's tag is expired, does it still count? I'm poor so a free pizza would be nice.
 
Well, take some back roads up to Papa John's. They want you to actually pull up out front in it. Might as well do a burnout to let them know what your there for.

(I'm not to blame if you do get stopped for expired tag, free pizza is free pizza though.)
 
My father had to sell his '65 Mustang to buy a family car when my mother was pregnant with me (and twin sister). He talked about that car very often. I could tell he really missed it. The best I could do was find a 1/18th scale die-cast of it (in the same colour) and give it to him on his birthday.
 
Awww man that sucks, how cool would it have been if it ended up yours? At least he's got more than pictures to remember it by. Hopefully it's still out there getting love from someone. There is a guy in Alberta Canada driving a black on black 1968 Dodge Charger R/T with a 383 stroker under the hood, I hope he likes it cause I never got to drive it myself, only ride in it. And to the kid in Jacksonville driving our 1966 AMC Ambassador, you better be taking care of that thing too, cause I wish it was still in the garage. The thing had not even broken 50,000 original miles, great car, drove like a dream.
 
My father had to sell his '65 Mustang to buy a family car when my mother was pregnant with me (and twin sister). He talked about that car very often. I could tell he really missed it. The best I could do was find a 1/18th scale die-cast of it (in the same colour) and give it to him on his birthday.
I've heard this a million times. That sports car they had to sell to start a family, etc.

What's sad is that as much as I like cars, I've always liked family sedans. I can hear myself now, "I miss my first car.... it was an 85 Maxim... wait, I liked my 96 Protege, oh, I had lowered 98 Accord!". I just realized that every single car I've owned has been a four door sedan! When I'm rich, I'm gonna be a bit adventurous and might buy an station wagon! :lol:
 
Guess i'm having pizza tomorrow for dinner. Good to hear they found the car
 
Interesting story, if you have the money why not.

My father sold a 1968 Pontiac GTO so he could go back overseas to reunite with his family, I would love to buy that car back for him and I know it is still in my city but they fetch a pretty price now.
 
My grandma had a Camaro. It smelled like cat piss and hauled ass.
 
My Mum had a '69 Camaro, but her ex husband left it parked on the street which in turn totaled it because the neighbor brothers across the street decided Drunk Driving was a good idea. they jit it and it was sad. all because the car was parked in the street. that aside. as of right now we just have the Fiero, that's our pride and joy.

Hopefully we keep it for a LONG time to come!
 
My grandma had a Camaro. It smelled like cat piss and hauled ass.

Should have told grandma to change her depends, and its not nice to call grandma a donkey.

Papa John is the new Citizen Cane. Glad he found his rose bud or whatever it was called.
 
Should have told grandma to change her depends, and its not nice to call grandma a donkey.

Papa John is the new Citizen Cane. Glad he found his rose bud or whatever it was called.

The previous owner had cats. Don't even try to crack on my dead grandma.
 
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