Back where it all started: Tom and Suzanne Jones were on a cross country race when they stopped by Pettijohn where the classic car was purchased by Suzanne’s grandfather in 1960.
They say no matter where you go, it’s always nice to come home again. And for a 1960 Ford Fairlane 500 it seems that it finally found its way back to the classic car’s original home.
Back when the car was brand new, it was originally bought from Pettijohn Auto Center in Bethany and later sold to Israel Chaney from Gilman City, who passed it on to his son John S. Chaney who then passed it on to his daughter Suzanne Jones.
Suzanne and Tom Jones are from Sun City West, Ariz., and earlier this month they decided to take part in the 2016 Great Race. The race spans roughly 2,000 miles and runs through seven states.
The Joneses started their journey by driving their Fairlane up to San Rafael, Calif., and all the way to Moline, Ill. They finished the race in just eight days without any issues with the car, which says a lot about how well kept the car has been over the years.
On their way back home, the Joneses wanted to pay homage to the car’s original home and brought it to Pettijohn’s for an oil change.
While there they allowed several of the employees to take the beautiful car for a drive. Owner Tom Pettijohn drove the car up onto a hoist while Pettijohn employees performed service.
The staff said the car’s underside was in great shape, a testament to Suzanne’s desire to keep the vehicle from rusting out in some pasture. She told the shop personnel stories about Israel Chaney, the grandfather that she referred to as “Grampy.”