If your car was stolen 38 years ago and failed to find it, you’re bound to call it quits and move on. Well, Harold Voelker did that after he lost his 1956 Ford F-100 in 1972. Although he frequented car shows and carried this firm belief that he’ll know it’s his truck if he saw it, he was also realistic about his chances of actually finding it. But in a funny twist, it was his precious F-100 that came back to him.
According to Voelker, he got a call from the California Highway Patrol who discovered the vehicle due to a discrepancy in the vehicle identification number while it was being registered by its current owners, a couple from Modesto. The officer in charge, CHP Officer Greg Bennett was the one who discovered the anomaly and contacted Voelker. After a series of questions, he promptly informed Voelker that they had found his truck.
Of course, since 38 years passed, the truck ended up being customized to suit the taste of the previous owners. Instead of its yellow finish and stainless steel hubcaps, the truck now sported a white paintjob and alloy wheels. But nonetheless, Voelker is ecstatic to finally have his baby returned to him. To keep him from losing his truck, he now plans on equipping it with an alarm and park it in his garage. He even plans on getting a new plate that says “Back Home” or “It’s Back.”
Our word of advice to Voelker? You can do whatever you want to your truck, man. Just make sure you don’t lose it again. Trust us, lightning doesn’t strike twice. So you’ll find it hard to get it back the next time you lose it.
