90-year-old grandfather leaves Ohio nursing home to see his Bel Air cleaned for first time in 52 years

Published on Jun 28, 2025 at 2:15 PM (UTC+4)
by Grace Donohoe

Last updated on Jul 04, 2025 at 6:26 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Emma Matthews

This 90-year-old grandfather has left his Ohio nursing home to see his beloved Chevy Bel Air get a well-deserved makeover.

The classic car had been sitting untouched for decades when it was discovered.

When they heard the story behind the car, the guys who found it decided to give it a new lease on life.

And the 90-year-old owner’s reaction was priceless.

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Why this old Chevy Bel Air got a makeover

The Chevy Bel Air is a classic loved by many, and if you look hard enough, you might even discover one or two in hidden barns.

For example, one YouTuber managed to find an incredible muscle car hoard in Oklahoma, which included a Chevrolet Bel Air.

And this dad was surprised with a completely restored 1957 Chevy Bel Air on his birthday.

But, wait until you hear the story behind this Bel Air.

Content creators wd.detailing shared a rather wholesome story of a 90-year-old grandfather from an Ohio nursing home and his love of cars.

The 90-year-old man hadn’t actually seen his Chevy Bel Air cleaned properly in over 50 years, so after discovering the car in all its preserved glory, they decided to get stuck in and give it a facelift.

As it had sat still for decades, it needed more than a slight polish.

But after the car was cleaned, it looked glorious.

That wasn’t the end of it, though, as there was still one task left.

The owner was yet to see his prized possession cleaned up, so it was time for the big reveal.

The guys pulled up to the nursing home, ready to surprise the owner.

And surprise him they did.

Grandfather reacts to the surprise makeover

Somewhat lost for words and overwhelmed by the incredible surprise, he said, ‘you guys did a nice job’.

And, after all the hard work getting his Bel Air cleaned, it was only right that he got behind the wheel for the first time in over five decades.

“It was a good car, it was a good deal,” he said.

“You guys did a wonderful job.”

The story touched many hearts online, too.

“This is so sweet. Nice of you guys to spiff up his ride! Great memories for him,” one user said.

“You can see how special this was at the end with the reveal when he sat in it. Anyone else crying?” asked another.

“Such a kind thing to do! It’s a beauty,” said another.

You can catch all the heartwarming action in the video at the top of the page.

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Grace started her career writing about the weird and wonderful for the international press. She's covered everything from lifestyle to sports and hard news and now finds herself pursuing her main interest - cars. She's loved cars from a young age and has a keen interest in luxury travel too.