Pizza Chain Founder Papa John's Lost Camaro Z-28

[DET MUSL]

Hey all just read this on Autoblog:

"It's inconceivable that in 1984 there was any young man in America under 30 that did not love both pizza and the Camaro Z-28. John Schnatter had the Chevy. A '72 Z-28 in gold with black stripes, white-letter BFGs on chrome wheels, a sunroof and chrome-tipped duals. In other words, awesome. John felt a strong pull to try his hand at opening a pizza restaurant. To raise the needed working capital, the beloved Camaro had to go. As much as he loved his car, John loved his pizza plans more.

Twenty-five years later, John Schnatter sits atop his Papa John's empire, 3,400 restaurants strong. John's not the only corporate chief with a hankering for a gold sports car, but going on a quest for your long lost automotive love is certainly a pursuit that speaks to the passion with which the CEO chases his goals. Not satisfied to just hit the road in an assuredly great replica of the car we'll call the "lost Z," CEO Schnatter's off on a road trip, which is being covered comprehensively at the papasroadtrip.com web outpost, and his quarry is the very Z-28 he was forced to liquidate so many years ago. He may be able to get some help from the Lost Car Registry, and the $25,000 reward he's offering for anyone who finds the beloved car is certainly motivational. Along the way on his trip, Papa John will make time to deliver pizzas for local franchises, and his vintage Camaro is way nicer than the clapped out ride you'd normally expect to be wheezing up to the curb carrying your pies."

Go to www.papasroadtrip.com for more info about his journey! It's a cool story I think.

[PieNsky]

You should see his house that he has in Anchorage,KY. The main office looks like a park with waterfalls and the pond. The man has class.

[Tran]

I just read this story too, that's awesome! I hope he finds his Z28

[bballplaya210]

It's good to see guys like this and Jay Leno who actually have a passion for the cars they own instead of just buying an inexpensive car because they want to look the part.

[Zeus]

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/29/p...e-to-find-his/

This guy lives down the street from me... im tempted to walk down there and ask him about this

[Splitter]

I read about that car on a Papa Johns pizza box. I hope he finds it!

[Gentry78]

i knew there had to be some kind of background to that commercial lol

hope he gets her back

[Gentry78]

do it man and tell him about camaro5

[IROCanSS]

I found mine... it was easy. Took about 4 hours and $30 to carfax, $35 to a title search company and about $5000 and the car is back in my garage after 17 years....

Bought the IROC new 6/2/89, sold in 12/1991... fast forward to 8/2008 and I found it and bought it back. Never to be sold again, and it was in really good shape.


GOOD LUCK PAPA!

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

God, I hope that car isn't rotting in some junkyard where the douchebag landlord won't sell it because 'he plans to restore it.'

[Georgie]

guy should just get a new SS instead... his pizza is good though

[orion007]

From what I can gather this car was sold to someone in the Jeffersonville, Ind area in 1983 for $2800. Would be nice if someone from this site claimed the prize.

http://www.papasroadtrip.com/contest/

[MEDISIN]

that's awesome - I hope he finds it! just goes to show how much a machine means to a man.

[Sinergy]

I watched a commercial with him standing in front of a 72 Z28... Must be nice to be rich.