A classic car and its trailer were stolen from a southern Dakota County resident, and authorities are turning to the public for help recovering the vintage auto and finding the thief.
A black 1951 Chevrolet Coupe, customized and with a recently replaced engine, was stolen early this month while inside a 24-foot Haulmark trailer, the Sheriff's Office said Thursday.
Gary Schulz, 61, "is most concerned on getting his car back, as it has significant sentimental value to the family," read a crime alert issued by the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Schulz said he bought the vehicle in 2014, within a year of his father's death because he "had a very similar car he bought right after World II," when he returned from serving in the Army in Europe.
A review of auto sales websites shows some restored versions of this vehicle priced at tens of thousands of dollars.
Schulz bought this model for about $25,000 and spent another $3,000 or so on a new engine. He drove it to a storage facility in the Hampton area in October.
He believes the car and trailer were stolen from the un-gated facility on Feb. 3, the night of the Super Bowl.
Schulz has insurance for the car, but he's holding off putting in a claim, should it turn up.
