Man reunited with stolen Corvette after 33 years

George Talley and his 1979 Corvette Stingray were finally reunited, 33 years after it was stolen from outside his Detroit home.

Motor City native George Talley and his prized '79 Chevrolet Corvette were reunited at General Motors' world headquarters today, just three miles from where the car was stolen from him 33 years ago.

Talley, 71, last saw his Corvette when it was parked on Detroit's Jefferson Avenue in 1981.

"I went into my apartment and I came out several hour later and it was gone" Said Talley.

"I called a buddy of mine and we rode around looking for it but we never found it."

• Read more NZ Police bust stolen car ring
• Read more Towie acquitted of all charges

On June 13, more than 30 years later, Talley received a call from AAA informing him his car had turned up 1500 kilometers away in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

"It was a lucky day to hear that my car had been found," he said. "They told me it was running, had 47,000 miles on it and was ready for me to pick up!"

Talley - a Corvette fan since he saw his neighbor's first-generation 'Vette in the 1950s - was fortunate to own three more Corvettes, but the '79 was always his favorite.

Talley's luck continued when Mark Reuss, executive vice president for GM Product Development, heard his story on the news and offered to ship the car home to Detroit.

"George's story brought a smile to my face," said Reuss. "As a longtime Corvette owner myself, I know the passion the car inspires. I also knew that car belonged home in Detroit, with its rightful owner, and we could make that happen."