dunefreak Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 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. 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. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090826/ap_on_...papa_john_s_car ------------------------------ I think that is a great story how he sold the car to help his business and it succeeded. Then he was able to get it back after all those years. Makes ya not worry so bad about selling your stuff when it's for the right reasons. Things always seem to work out in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randog Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 That's pretty cool. Smart business man there. Great Pizza too (one of my favorites). Hey Dunefreak, Do you think "Tony's frozen Pizza" will ever buy his Pinto back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Cheese Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Do you think "Tony's frozen Pizza" will ever buy his Pinto back? cool story sorry R DINGLE...i don't share your enthusiasm about papa johns pizza...maybe its just all the tweekers that work at the only one in Bakersfield tonys pizza BEFORE AFTER http://www.dumontduneriders.com/invision/i...mp;hl=pepperoni whole thread here for the newbs...as it is REQUIRED READING ok....back on topic....sorry pimpshack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Agent Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Good story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAGDOLL MX Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 thats cool as hell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fast Machine Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 That's pretty cool. Smart business man there. Great Pizza too (one of my favorites). Hey Dunefreak, Do you think "Tony's frozen Pizza" will ever buy his Pinto back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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