Pismo Beach man surprises brother with new, old car

You can do a lot of things in four years-- get through high school, even graduate college. But one local man decided to use these last four years to give his brother the surprise of a lifetime, brother who he says truly deserves it.

The big reveal went down at the weekly Donut Derelicts car show in Pismo Beach.

Roger Bartow had no idea this day was coming.

"I came up for my birthday yesterday, and I have to work tomorrow down in Texas, so I was like okay, I gotta get going," said Roger.

Roger's brother Ron begged him to stay in town just one more night. Roger's surprise-- an old car made new again.

"Back then I thought, while he's in Iraq lets restore the car, get it fixed up and running for him, and that would be a nice coming home present for him," said Ron.

Roger's mother covered for Ron.

"When I went away, the first time, they said 'oh we put it in storage for you,'" said Roger.

But Roger was the last person Ron had to worry about.

"The harder part would be having started the project when my boy was in second grade, and having a second grader not say 'hey uncle Roger! Ron's working on your car!"

Saturday, Roger didn't even recognize the car as his own.

"Well this was my first car, and I drove it, you know, first car, until it fell apart," said Roger.

Ron says restoring Roger's 1972 Camaro back to new was a family and community effort.

"When I read the sign and everybody was clapping, and you know I'm from L.A. and to have the whole community involved in something like that was just very touching," said Roger.

Ron says he was surprised to get as much emotion out of an 'army guy' as he did.

Roger says he is excited to drive his new old car home to Fullerton tonight.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• pismo beach
• Donut Derelicts car show
• Roger Bartow
• ron bartow
• 1972 Camaro