An Owosso father got the surprise of his life this week when he was reunited with his 1977 Corvette.
Richard Tipton, 69, sold the vehicle in 1987 when his wife became pregnant with twins, because it wasn’t a “family vehicle,” according to Tipton’s daughter, Molly.
But 28 years later, the prized vehicle is back in his garage.
Tipton’s three children, Molly, Abbie and Andrew, pooled their finances to buy the Corvette from a used car showroom in Flint, where their father had spotted the vehicle for sale more than a year ago.
“He told my mom, ‘Man, if I ever win the lottery. … I’m going to buy my old Corvette back,’” Molly Tipton said in an e-mail to the Free Press.
Turns out, he didn’t have to win the lottery.
The surprise reunion was caught on camera as the garage door went up at the family business, Tipton Trucking.
In the video, Andrew Tipton is heard saying “You bought us enough vehicles, dad, time for us to buy you one.”
Even their mother, Anne, was shocked by the big reveal, saying “This is crazy!”
“After my parents got married they hopped in this Corvette and headed off on their honeymoon. This Tuesday night they hopped back in … some 37 years later and went for a cruise. I think it brought back a lot of memories for them both.
“There were a lot of tears,” Molly said.