Eugene Brakke’s ‘65 pride and joy was stolen in Burbank in 1970. It turns up in San Diego, where it was cared for all those years — except for the pale blue repaint job.
Original Story From the LA Times
By Joe Mozingo, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 21, 2008
The last time Eugene Brakke drove his honey-gold 1965 Ford Mustang, he was young and single, and the throaty little sports car “certainly didn’t hurt” with the ladies. He parked at work that day in May 1970, at the Lockheed plant in Burbank, and when he came out later it was gone.
The police asked him how much gas was in the tank, suggesting the thieves may have just taken it out for a joy ride. But with gas at about 36 cents a gallon then, he thought they could probably afford to buy some more.
Brakke held hopes that it would turn up somewhere. He loved that car like a member of his family. But eventually, he figured it was gone — meaning somewhere in Tijuana.
Then this week — Monday or Tuesday, he can’t remember — he got a call from a detective at the San Diego Police Department.
“We found your car,” the detective said.
Brakke, now 80 and living in Costa Mesa, was impressed. That’s police work, he said. But he soon learned that the woman who owned the car, since May 1970, deserved the accolades.
Judy Smongesky, 55, got the car as a gift when she graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Her father bought it from a used-car dealer in Bellflower for $1,114. It was her dream car. They had the engine rebuilt in 1974 and painted it green, then blue-gray.
By the 1990s, the car had fallen into disrepair and was parked in her garage in San Diego. A neighbor wanted to buy it. But he came back to her and said the vehicle identification number tag on the door was different from the one inside the engine compartment — an indication that it may have been stolen.
She notified San Diego police, who looked into it and told her the car’s history was clean, she said.
Smongesky put in about $4,000 to rebuild the engine again and do other repairs. But the different tags bothered her. One tag identified the car as having been built in San Jose. The other said it was built in Dearborn, Mich. She didn’t want to invest any more money until she was sure that it was legally her car. She investigated on the Internet, and contacted the Department of Motor Vehicles and police again.
Police detectives called her back and said it had been stolen and that they had found the owner. Legally, it was his, if he wanted it, they said.
“It is his car and he could take it, even though I spent all this money,” Smongesky said. “This is my baby. I’ve had it since I was 18.”
Brakke said he had been given conflicting reports of its condition. First, police told him the car had no engine or transmission, then that it was good to drive. Great, he thought. But his enthusiasm waned when the detective mentioned the car was pale blue now.
Brakke had ordered that honey-gold from the factory. That was the smooth color in 1965. And don’t be mistaken: If it hadn’t been stolen, a honey-gold 1965 Mustang would be parked in his driveway to this day — next to his 1959 Ford Ranchero.
“When I get a car, I take care of it and I like it, and it becomes a member of my family,” he said.
He planned to pick it up in San Diego on Thursday but decided he didn’t feel up to fighting traffic.
Sure it’s just a car but there was probably only a couple 65’s in that color. That makes it unique and very valuable to the original owner. Obviously most of you guys never had your car stolen. Before you get down on this guy think what it would be like to have your car ripped off. The system is at fault too because it didn’t catch the swapped VIN.
By flyboy. June 4th, 2008 at 11:04 amYou guys are bunch of flaming liberals. The guy had no choice that his car was stolen. A stolen vehicle is a stolen vehicle. Just because you received it or bought it from someone else does not negate the fact it’s not legally yours. The guy has every right to what is legally his. If he did not accept the insurance claim, he owns it not that insurance company. I have heard of a few people not accepting the check just in case it was ever found. While I feel sorry for her and it is unfortunate, he is the victim not her.
By Mark. April 17th, 2008 at 5:47 pmCool story show to grandma
By Scott Trujillo. April 10th, 2008 at 6:53 amI would like to learn how to track the ownership history on a car like this. I have a 1972 model and would love to know the history on it. Can anyone offer advice on this?
By David Clark. March 30th, 2008 at 4:55 pmShe shoulda’ worn some shoes though.
By Bob. March 26th, 2008 at 6:51 pmWould make for interesting reading to have all the facts:
By rancheromeister. March 25th, 2008 at 11:48 amWho at the police dept. originally told her the car was legit when the neighbor wanted to buy it? I’m sure the statute of limitations applies, but is the dealer they bought it from still in business? He and /or the guy who stole it should be the ones that owe the insurance company. And in 1970, I doubt the ins. co. gave the owner a whole lot of money for a 5 year old car that cost less than $3,000 when it was new. I’m sure he paid his insurance policy premiums during the 5 years he had the car. What did he replace the Mustang with? Did he just start driving the Ranchero? Note the detectives’ quote-”Legally, it was his, if he wanted it.” She would have been better off to let the mismatched tags stop bothering her, and check it out, before investing that $4,000. He’s not obligated to reimburse her, just like she won’t be prosecuted for receiving stolen goods-only because it was so long ago. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” JD
Obviously none of you guys have ever had a car stolen from them…. I had a 1970 SS396 Chevelle stolen from me back in 1990 and yeah, if the cops called and said they found it and I could have it back if I wanted it, you can bet your a** I would be taking it back.
By mark. March 24th, 2008 at 7:17 amif it weren’t a 65 mustang, the guy would have said “good riddance” long ago. Let her keep the car.
By Ed. March 23rd, 2008 at 8:17 pm“When I get a car, I take care of it and I like it, and it becomes a member of my family,” he said. Does this guy think he’s the only one with that love of cars? He’s in his eighties, has a sweet ‘59 Ranchero, and probably doesn’t drive that much. Honestly, if I were in that exact situation, I’d give it to her. She did everything right, went out of her way to be an honest person and this is what she gets. What a lesson for this guys grand children.
As an aside, “She notified San Diego police, who looked into it and told her the car’s history was clean, she said.” Don’t we all just want the government running more and more of our lives? LOL.
By Bob. March 23rd, 2008 at 5:00 amIf insurance paid off on the car, the insurance company owns the car, not either of them. If this keeps making news, look for it to get interesting. Otherwise, I hope the guy makes a deal with her, or becomes an outcast on the car show circuit.
By Greg. March 22nd, 2008 at 5:37 pmThey should consider split custody and child? support, sounds like they both have alot invested.
By Racer45. March 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 pmI am sure that he had long since moved on from that car, and like Bob said, I am sure that the insurance company had paid out (I hope they come looking for thier check.)
Bob, he IS going to go get it… “He planned to pick it up in San Diego on Thursday but decided he didn’t feel up to fighting traffic. ” What a jerk…
This lady owns if for 37 years and fixes it up/takes care of it, just to have him take it back? So do you think he would have gone to get it from a junkyard if it was missing the engine/tranny and all the glass and was rusty as hell? I bet not… Greedy old bastard… I will punch him when I see him in hell!
By topdeadcenter. March 22nd, 2008 at 2:33 pmIt would have been messed up if that guy would have taken it from her. I’m sure he was reimbursed by insurance, and this car was hers since she was 18. Not cool old man, you only didn’t take it because the color changed.
By Bob. March 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 am