Car Stolen in 1981 Cold Case No Longer Hot
The vintage 1963 Ford Fairlane was stolen 23 years ago from Terry and Robin Smith’s home in Greenville, S.C.
It was just recovered in California.
“What a wonderful gift at Christmastime ... after 23 years to receive news that they’d found our car,” Robin Smith said.
California Highway Patrol officers called the Smiths on Friday to tell them authorities had recovered the vehicle.
A few weeks ago, a person brought the car into the CHP’s San Bernardino office for inspection.
A sharp-eyed officer noticed the car’s identification numbers didn’t match and began investigating.
CHP Lt. Greg Williams said authorities don’t believe the people who brought the car in had anything to do with the theft.
Smith said the car was a wedding gift from her parents, but the couple have not decided whether to bring it home or sell it in California.
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