Stolen car recovered after 28 years

The license plates to Lynda Alsip’s 1967 Mustang are finally being put on — after 28 years! Someone stole her car less than one year after she bought it. “It’s absolutely amazing,” said Alsip.

“I kept the plates. I don’t want to say I gave up hope but I did. It was a wonderful memento from your first car. Now having my first car back, it’s a phenomenal feeling,” added Alsip.

No one knows exactly where the car has been since 1986. All we know is someone recently bought the classic. When a California Highway Patrol trooper was performing VIN inspections on it he noticed something was not right and his gears started shifting.

Jamie Rios of the California Highway Patrol said, “The officer, through his due diligence, a lot of investigation was able to verify it was stolen, even though a lot of paperwork has been lost or purged from the system.”

The find revved up memories in Lynda’s mind… memories of her father. “He taught me how to change the oil on this car. He’s no longer with us so it’s very bittersweet,” she said.

Also bittersweet — the fact it was CHP who recovered the car — the same agency who gave her her first ticker in her very first car.

Alsip said, “I think winning the lottery. It happens to some people, very few and far between but for it to happen to me is an amazing feeling.”