SOLD FOR DIAPER MONEY

SOLD FOR DIAPER MONEY - 41 years ago in 1983 a man named Earl learned that his young wife was pregnant with his first son. 

Knowing the financial needs coming he made the decision to sell his beloved 1967 Marina Blue Camaro.

That son ended up being me, and I learned the story when I was a teenager. 

Dad would always joke that he had to sell his Camaro for diaper money.

There has always been a twinkle in his eye when he talked about this car, and even though he would never admit it I knew deep down he loved that car more than any other he had ever owned.

Dad would recall the very specific details of this car so much that I had them burned into my brain. 

1967. 350 V8. Marina Blue. White Stripes. Automatic. Crager aftermarket wheels. White letter tires. Dual exhaust. I could close my eyes and see it.

The moment I heard about this car I dreamed of one day somehow finding a way to give it back to him. 

Tonight I finally did it. 

I gave dad back his car.

Fully restored. He had no idea.

Mom had no idea. Nobody had any idea. 

I’ve owned the car for years and been working on it secretly this entire time for this moment. 

Somehow I was able to really keep a true secret. The reveal was absolutely perfect.

With some searching and pure luck  I located the car in 2022 nearly in Oklahoma. 

The car was rough, full of wiring problems, had engine issues and questionable wheels. But it was intact. 

The past couple of years I have slowly worked to tastefully update many parts, correct every issue, test every function, and even found a brand new set of period correct 15” crager wheels, identical to the set dad had on the car in the early 80’s! Tonight on his 65th birthday, I handed him the keys. 

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.

 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.

And it was one of the best moments of my entire life.
I love you Dad. Thanks for the diaper money.

I secretly bought my dad’s 67 Camaro that he sold in 1983. I successfully kept it a secret for more than two years as restoration was completed. At the conclusion of his 65th Birthday Dinner, I finally revealed the car to him. It was pure magic!

It seems like so many people have an old project in the garage. A rusting car in a shed. Some car that their dads wish they never sold. A car that got away…

While my dad has always spoke lovingly and fondly of his old Camaro he sold for my “diaper money” he was never sour about it. There wasn’t negativity about it. He wasn’t sad. He wasn’t angry. He talks about the selling of the car like it was a duty. Business.

Over the past several years I have met many men full of regret that they never “got around to it” or “never found the time” to restore, fix or find their dad’s old car. I get that! For me hearing this added even more urgency to find a way to make it happen. And it did happen. Thank goodness. 

We are working as quick as we can to compile a “reveal” video to share with everyone, and how we even set that up and pulled it off was amazing. We used a professional magician to distract dad from the camera. It’s so good. 

Thank you all for the kind words, positive vibes and support. Today has been so amazing!

Ref: SOLD FOR DIAPER MONEY (facebook)

 Photo Credit:  Jared Guynes