Stolen 1965 Mustang Recovered with Help from a Facebook Group

Restored Ford Mustang GT fastback was missing for less than a day, thanks to help from a stranger.

Imagine that you go to bed one night with your 1965 Ford Mustang GT fastback locked safely in the garage, but when you get up in the morning, the garage is empty. Somehow, someone stole your classic pony car from inside a locked garage, creating every classic car owner’s nightmare.

According to a report from KSN.com, that is exactly what Kevin Pappan of Wichita, Kansas ran into on July 16, when his beloved 1965 Mustang fastback was stolen overnight from his garage. Fortunately, with help from a local Facebook group that helps recover stolen vehicles, he had his Mustang back before the day was over.

Missing Mustang

When Kevin Pappan woke up on Tuesday, July 16, nothing seemed out of sorts until he headed out to his garage. His prized 1965 Ford Mustang GT fastback was gone, stolen overnight from a locked garage. There were no signs of who took it or where it went, so he did the only thing that he could think of, heading to social media to see if anyone in his area might be able to help, although he was sure that he would never see his car again.

Pappan found a Facebook group called Stolen Vehicles of Wichita, which is similar to groups all over the country that help to get the word out about stolen vehicles. He posted pictures and information on his 1965 Mustang and less than an hour later, someone from the Facebook group called with information.

The man on the phone explained that he had seen that exact pony car parked nearby and when Pappen made the two-mile drive, he found his 1965 Mustang GT fastback. The car had been abandoned within a few minutes of the theft, making the recovery quick and easy.

There is no mention of damage, but based on the video in the report from the local news station, the classic Mustang is showing no ill signs of the theft. There may be damage to the interior, but the crooks appeared to have not hit anything during the short joyride.

A New Friend

After the stranger called Pappan and told him where to find his 1965 Ford Mustang, the delighted owner gave the stranger $100 while becoming friends on Facebook and building a strong bond.

“It’s almost like we’re brothers now man,” said Pappan about the helpful stranger, whose name was not included in the report.

There is still no information as to who stole the 1965 Ford Mustang GT, named Katherine, but he is ecstatic to have the car home safe and sound while also making a new friend in the local car scene.

Photos: KSN.com

Join the Mustang Forums now!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

Facebook   Twitter