John Schnatter, founder of the Papa John’s pizza chain, has been reunited with the gold-and-black 1971 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 he sold in 1983 for $2,800 to help save his father’s tavern in Jeffersonville, Ind.,
the
New York Times
reported.
Schnatter used the rest to start the pizza business that grew into the global Papa John’s chain, the article said.
But he still missed his beloved Camaro and spent years searching for it. He created a Web site on the search, held promotional appearances and eventually offered $250,000 to whoever found it.
The car, which had only changed hands twice from the original buyers, was owned by Jeffery Robinson in Flatwoods, Ky., about 165 miles east of Loisville, where the Papa John’s chain is based, the
Times
reported. The original buyers of the car, who saw Schnatter discussing the search on TV, tracked down Robinson, who had bought the car about five years ago for $4,000, delivered it to Schnatter and received the $250,000 reward. The original buyers will get $25,000.
The car will be displayed at the company headquarters in Louisville, replacing a replica Schnatter commissioned while he searched for his original car.
In celebration, Papa John’s offered a free pizza to all Camaro owners on Aug. 26, the article said. (Source:
New York Times,
Aug. 25, 2009.)
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