SAN DIEGO — It's been almost a year and a half since Mission Valley resident Joel Baumbaugh has heard the purr of the engine inside his 1950 Chevy ¾-ton pickup.
“It's got almost 500 horsepower and an automatic, nothing like stock,” said Baumbaugh.
In June 2022, CBS 8 first aired a report on the antique truck being stolen from the parking lot in front of Baumbaugh’s condo in Mission Valley. The vehicle has been in his family for the past 50 years, going through five engines and five transmissions.
“My brother had it 20 years and I've had it 30 years and it was my daily driver. So, two February's ago, it did a million miles,” said Baumbaugh.
He just figured the truck was long gone. To make matters worse, Baumbaugh had no theft insurance.
“Both my daughter and I searched all the time, at least once a month, we both searched all the classified ads throughout the United States, and even in Mexico,” said Baumbaugh.
Then, in early November, came the good news.
“About seven o'clock at night, I got a call from the police department and they said we found your truck,” said Baumbaugh.
It was abandoned in Chula Vista.
“I think when they ran out of gas, they couldn't get it started again. And so, they kind of towed it off the side of the road and left it somewhere maybe in front of somebody's house,” Baumbaugh said.
It had some cobwebs and damage to the ignition and steering wheel. But now, it’s back on the road and back in the family.
After 17 months without his beloved truck, Baumbaugh said he plans to give it a new paint job, and he will keep it locked up safe and sound in a garage.
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