Eric Worth’s 1969 SS Camaro was stolen from a hotel parking lot during the NSRA Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky.

There is no denying that car owners develop a bond with their cars. In many cases, some people talk about their cars as if they are family members. Eric Worth of Freeland, Michigan, experienced the loss of his “family member” in August 2016, during the NSRA Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky, when his beloved 1969 SS Camaro was stolen from the hotel parking lot. Several months later, Worth received a phone call from the Louisville Metro Police Department, stating they had found his Camaro. This ABC12 video is an interview with Worth about the recovery of his prized Camaro. Worth stated that he purchased the Camaro when he was just 15-years-old, and it started out as a true father and son project that took years to complete.

According to ABC12, Detective Jason Schweitzer took the case and pursued it until he passed away. Following his passing, other detectives took over the case and a tracked down a lead that helped them locate Worth’s Camaro in an empty garage in December 2016. Unfortunately, the Camaro was in the process of being parted out and was stripped by the theiving  lowlife when it was discovered. Worth, along with friends, headed back to reclaim the Camaro and parts that remained.

“When I got the call from the detective that they found my car, I was absolutely ecstatic,” said Worth. He had received the call  that the car had been recovered shortly before Christmas. “It was an excellent Christmas present for my family,” added Worth.

The officers investigating the theft were instructed to sweep up every nut and bolt for Worth to reclaim. The detectives at the Louisville Metro Police Department showed a great deal of dedication to finding Worth’s Camaro, and following through with the work started by their colleague, Detective Jason Schweitzer. It will take time to put the pieces back together, but Worth has brought this car back to life once before.

Worth purchased his Camaro when he was 15-years-old. This father and son project took years to complete, and has gone through multiple phases.

When asked about his former engine, he stated that the Camaro was powered by a GM 385 horepower 350 cubic-inch engine. Since that engine is now gone, Worth is considering an LS swap in the future. Worth said, “I’m little leary… I’m old school, I like to turn knobs to tune something rather than use a computer, so it’ll be something new for me.” The 700R4 behind the engine was also lost, but at least he was able to get the car. “I will stick with an automatic transmission, but I need to decide if I’ll go with a traditional 700R4 or an electronically-controlled 4L70E,” he said. Fortunately, he had the car insured with a classic car policy instead of regular auto insurance. Hopefully, the insurance coverage will help during the rebuilding process.

Photo by Louisville Metro Police Department Facebook Page. Not much was left intact after the Camaro was recovered.