The family of an Illinois man has reunited him with his beloved 1976 Porsche 914 that he sold more than two decades ago.
Richard Lotesta originally bought the car in 1978. He enjoyed it so much that he joined the Porsche Club of America and became an avid amateur racer.
He sold the car in 1992 to help his second wife, Brenda, start a marketing business that has since blossomed into a national firm with 800 employees, reports the Daily Herald.
“When we sold it, it was like getting rid of a child,” Brenda recalled. The couple met after Richard rented storage space for the Porsche below her apartment. She learned to drive in the car.
This year, Richard’s oldest daughter, Lorren, decided she wanted to surprise her dad with a car similar to his old 914. She joined a Porsche 914 group on Facebook and posted about her idea.
A user responded that his girlfriend had one she was willing to sell. When they went back through the maintenance records, they found out the amazing coincidence that it was the very same 914 that Richard had sold all those years ago.
Lorren purchased and insured the car before gathering her family for the big surprise. Video of the moment showed Lorren telling Richard his old car had come home.
“No way,” her father replied.
“The one you sold 20 years ago is back in the family,” Lorren said.
“I don’t believe it,” he said.
The car was well cared for before it made its way back to Richard. Lorren said it was given a new engine and transmission and its paint had been refreshed in the past five years.
“It’s been souped up,” she told her father. “It runs, Dad. It’s in perfect condition. It is rust-free. It’s been completely babied – just like you took care of it.”
Richard told the Herald he was deciding between preserving the car or using it to give driving lessons, though he seemed to favor the latter.
“It needs to be driven,” he told the Herald.
I’d like to see more of these kinds of stories. This is touching.