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A stolen 1973 Chevrolet Corvette, cherished for its deep family history, was recovered after a harrowing theft and social media search.
A Contra Costa County man’s emotional journey to recover his stolen 1973 Chevrolet Corvette came to an unexpected resolution this week. Michael Dodge, whose family has owned the classic car for 51 years, was devastated when thieves broke into his Benicia warehouse and took his treasured Corvette, alongside other valuables.
Dodge described the car as a family heirloom, passed down from his late father. “I remember when I was seven, and he ordered the car,” Dodge recalled. “It’s 51 years old, only has 64,000 miles, and has been babied—it’s never even been driven in the rain.” For Dodge, the Corvette wasn’t just a car but a tangible connection to his father, who passed away 31 years ago.
A Bay Area man is speaking out after he said thieves broke into his Benicia warehouse and stole his treasured vintage Chevrolet Corvette. https://t.co/MA2qnQV1yx
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) December 11, 2024
The theft occurred when a professional group broke into Dodge’s bio-tech company office in Benicia. The criminals removed glass panels from the front door and emptied the warehouse, taking laptops, signed NFL memorabilia, and the vintage Corvette. “It’s like someone’s been kidnapped,” Dodge said, mourning the loss.
The breakthrough came after Dodge turned to social media for help. A man, upon seeing posts about the missing Corvette, contacted Dodge, claiming he had unknowingly purchased the car for just $2,000. Authorities tracked the caller to Colfax, where the California Highway Patrol confiscated the vehicle.
Dodge expressed relief at the recovery but emphasized the car’s irreplaceable sentimental value. “I could not replace it even if they gave me $500,000. That’s not my dad’s car,” he said.
On Wednesday, Dodge will reunite with the cherished Corvette in the Sierra foothills, bringing an end to a saga that highlighted the car’s deep emotional significance to him and his family.
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