(November 18, 2011) LOS ANGELES — Herb Younger thought his cherished 1965 Impala SS was out of his life forever when he sold it in the 1980s to pay for his children’s education. Now his car is back with him, an emotional reunion captured on video for all to see.

Chevrolet, keeping with its theme of showcasing authentic moments, created a 60-second TV spot and long-form online version of the real-life homecoming.

Younger bought his Impala new in 1964 and amassed nearly a quarter century of family memories before selling it.

Two decades later, his sons decided to reunite their father with his Impala.  After five years of tracking Vehicle Identification Number leads through several states, they finally located their dad’s Impala in Canada and purchased it over the telephone. The car was still in pristine condition.

“It’s not just a car. It’s all the memories and feelings,” said Jared Younger. “It brings all that back.”


From left, Herb Younger tells Chevrolet Vice President Global Marketing and Strategy Chris Perry the story of how his sons Jared and Derek reunited him with his 1965 Impala. (Photo taken at the LA Auto Show)

To capture the moment when Younger was reunited with his car, Chevrolet and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners conspired with Jared and his brother, Derek, and posed as a film crew documenting three generations of an American family. Little did Herb know, his Impala would come rumbling into view at a park where he was playing with his grandchildren. His recognition was instant. This was not a car like his. This was HIS car.

View the extended version of the commercial.

“The moment when he realizes his car has come back to him is priceless, and is a prime example of the emotional connection many people have with their Chevys,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Global Chevrolet Marketing and Strategy. “The story is moving because it's true – and there's no better way to prove that Chevy runs deep.”

“‘My Dad's Car’ tells a story that is common among Chevy owners, who tend to confess to carrying a lifetime love of the brand," said Jamie Barrett, executive creative director at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. “In the case of the Younger family, we got lucky and were able to capture the emotional reunion between Herb Younger and his lost-but-never-forgotten 1965 Impala SS.”