Believing her car had been stripped for parts and dumped many years ago, Terry Dietrich of Duluth, Georgia, shared in recent USA Today YouTube video that she long ago gave up hope of ever being reunited with her 1972 blue T-top Stingray Corvette. Purchased by her father in 1972 for her nineteenth birthday, courtesy of his GM employee discount, Terry was devastated when the car was stolen six months later from her work parking lot.

Little could Terry have known that as faith would have it the car has now reappeared forty two years later. Currently sitting in the DMV warehouse for stolen cars in Forest City, North Carolina, apparently the car had been rumbling around town all these years. Sold to Gary Green, the owner of a local used car dealership, the vehicle came into his possession when a recent widow sold it to him upon her husband’s passing. Greene familiar with the car when he purchased it often seeing it over the years rolling up and down the streets said, “I’ve known this car all my life. It’s never been hidden from anybody.”

However, upon obtaining the car it wasn’t long before Greene realized all was not as it appeared. Having restored many cars it did not take Greene long to notice the title description did not match the car before him. Listed as a 1969 Convertible on the title, it was obvious something was amiss. Comparing the VIN imprinted number on the car’s engine and inside the frame with the number on the title all began to come to light when they did not match.

Green reported his discovery to DeKalb county police who, after researching old reports, was able to contact Terry pretty easily as the family had never moved and even kept the same phone number all these years.

Sadly though, all that ends well is not well as of yet. Currently locked in a red tape battle, the state says it won’t give the car to anyone unless they can present the correct title showing clear ownership. As things stand, the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles says they will only accept a court order unless Terry, her insurance company, or the state of Georgia can present a title.

With that said, unfortunately the car could end up at auction. Terry says she doesn’t have the money to fight for it at auction so she may be left again with a heartbreaking drive down memory lane – not because her car was stolen – but this time because it was found.