Back in July, we reported on the heartbreaking story of 95-year-old Indiana man Harry Donovan – a World War II veteran who was cheated out of somewhere around $10,000 and valuable classic car parts after the man he paid to restore his 1967 Ford Mustang convertible grifted him.
At the time, it seemed that Mr. Donovan might never receive any justice; the local police, Attorney General, and his insurer all seemed incapable of helping, and his classic Mustang – a car he bought almost-new in 1969 – was recovered from his grifter sans engine, transmission, bumpers, and hood.
Now, it looks like Mr. Donovan’s story might just get the happy ending it deserves; since the IndyStar first published the story last July, the website now reports that a group of volunteers has initiated a plan to restore the car free-of-charge. The effort is being led by Ken Mosier, who owns Danville restoration shop The Finer Details. He and his team will be donating much of the labor required to restore the classic, ’67 Mustang to showroom condition, while collecting monetary and parts donations with some help from veterans’ organizations and others.
SHARE: If 400 people give $10 we can get #WWII #veteran‘s #Mustang restored. https://t.co/9YCZbO7UO5 Here’s story https://t.co/4Cwx6PHeio
— Tim Evans (@starwatchtim) September 3, 2016
Mosier estimates that the Mustang’s restoration might ordinarily cost Mr. Donovan as much as $50,000 or more, but as it is, he says that neither he nor anyone else involved stands to gain anything apart from the satisfaction of having helped a veteran in need.
Although Mr. Harry Donovan still has a valid driver’s license, he admitted to the IndyStar that he probably won’t be the one to drive the 1967 Ford Mustang once its restoration is completed. That honor, he says, will go to his grandson: Harry Donovan IV.
No Comments yet