Every Mopar® enthusiast has that one vehicle in their past that was more than just a car. For Eric Rothenhaus, the story of his family’s yellow 1970s Jeep® Cherokee is one that spans decades—with an almost surreal reunion.
Eric’s family purchased their (now classic) Jeep® Brand vehicle before he was even born, making this ride the first vehicle to hold his earliest memories. “Very few yellow with black roofs were built in a two-year availability.” Eric wrote. “This was bought for my mom so I could be driven around in New York. I was brought home from the hospital in this vehicle.”
Eric told us that his dad sold the beloved Jeep® Cherokee when his parents divorced in 1984. It disappeared from 1984 all the way through 2021 when Eric finally got a registration hit in Butte, Montana. It turns out the vehicle had been there since the 1990s, with a journey spanning a few different family farms.
Thankfully, Eric was able to contact the owner. When Eric showed the owner a photo of him as a child holding a teddy bear and standing beside the vehicle, the owner must have felt a tug at his heartstrings, because he agreed to sell the beloved family ride back to Eric.
Eric then shared what might be the most mind-blowing part of the story. Because of snowstorm, the vehicle’s shipment was delayed for several weeks. When the shipper finally arrived with the vehicle, the date was February 12th—the exact day of Eric’s father’s passing back in 2015.
And then, the shipper shared one final photo of the Jeep® Cherokee all loaded up and ready to head to Eric. It turns out that photo was taken and sent at 7:18 PM, the exact time Eric’s dad passed away.
“Call it what you want,” Eric wrote, “but if any vehicle was ever supposed to be back in the family, this Jeep® Cherokee earned its place.”
Once it finally arrived back home, Eric was able to give the Jeep® Cherokee the treatment he’d wanted to over all those years it was missing. “The only significant difference is the 4-inch lift, and I painted the roof black again like the factory spec. It still has the original graphics and aluminum slot mag wheels.”
Eric also told us about his brother’s attachment to this family treasure and shared a photo of them both with the vehicle (Eric is on the left, his brother on the right). “This is my older brother; he’s an Admiral in the Navy. He had no idea I bought it back, so when I picked him up at his ship after his deployment in the old Jeep® Cherokee, it felt like dad coming home for both of us. I’m proud to say I’ve had a Jeep® Brand vehicle in the family for 50 years. We are both American proud!”
Eric’s love of the Jeep® Brand vehicles isn’t confined to the family’s old Jeep® Cherokee. “I hunted for years to find it. I loved it as a kid, and I’ve only been without a Jeep® Brand vehicle in my life for two years when I moved. I now own 15 Jeep® Brand vehicles, all restored by me. Go Jeep® Brand, Go Mopar®!”
If you’re like Eric and are passionate about vehicle restoration, check out our resto parts page for a wide collection of classic parts and accessories: https://www.mopar.com/en-us/shop/parts/mopar-restoration-parts.html
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We’re grateful to Eric for sharing a beautiful family story about vehicle care, passion, and restoration. Check out Eric’s Instagram page for more fun restoration content and even more photos of his classic yellow family gem.
If you have stories of your own to send in, we’d love to hear them! Check us out on social media and reach out with your stories. We may even feature one of your Mopar® car tales, too.
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