An emotional grandfather wiped away tears of happiness when his family surprised him by getting his beloved sports car running again after 35 years.
Navy veteran Duane, 81, from Fargo, North Dakota, purchased his beautiful 1956 MG sports car before heading back home from military service in San Diego, California.
It was the perfect ride for a young man in his 20s, his family said, and after making the purchase, Duane drove the car home where it wasn’t the most practical vehicle for the state’s harsh winters.
Still, Duane got use out of his MG, which, following a color change from yellow to red in the 80s, was suffering from mechanical issues, such as frozen cables, worn parts and general wear and tear.
The last time he drove it was around 1990, and over the years that followed, family members saw “Bobba’s little red car” as a relic to his youth, with the grandfather still lighting up when he told stories of the car’s past.
A few years ago, Duane had asked his son-in-law, Doug, if he could one day fix up his cherished car – but after secretly working on the vehicle for a few years in his spare time, Doug accepted he would need some expert help.
Having worked with a mechanic who had an appreciation for classic British cars, Doug was able to get the MG cleaned up and running again.
But he didn’t want to just inform his father-in-law of the exciting news.
So, with the help of Duane’s daughter, Michelle, and the couple’s four children – Cooper, Kelyn, Remi and McCall – the family planned a big surprise.
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McCall shares a love of thrifting with her grandma, and having paid a visit to her grandparents’ house, she surprised her grandpa with a small toy MG, which Duane placed next to a book about the sports cars he had received at Christmas.
But then, the 81-year-old was encouraged to head outside, where he saw his family gathered on his driveway.
With the veteran delighted to see everyone but also a little confused, Doug was given the signal to drive around the neighborhood in the stunning red sports car, pulling up outside Duane’s house for the big surprise.
As soon as he saw his car, which had spent so long parked in storage, Duane approached the vehicle while wiping tears from his eyes.
Granddaughter Kelyn, 24, captured the beautiful moment on video, which she later shared on social media.
She said: “His eyes locked on the car, and in that instant, decades of memories came rushing back.
“You could see it all on his face – the joy, the disbelief, the emotion.
“He smiled, eyes welled with tears, and without hesitation, he stepped forward, asking Doug for a ride.
“As he ran his hands along the curves of the MG, it was like watching someone reunite with an old friend – someone they thought they might never see again.
“It was a deeply moving moment, one that the family – and everyone who’s watched the video – won’t soon forget.
“Seeing my grandpa react that way was overwhelming in the best way.
“It’s hard to put into words – I felt emotional too, just witnessing how much it meant to him.
“It wasn’t just about a car; it was about everything that came with it – the memories, the stories, the years that had gone by.
“It made me so grateful to be part of that moment with him.
“You could feel how deeply it touched him, and that kind of genuine emotion is something really rare and powerful.”
