Theft of beloved ‘59 Chevy hits family ‘like a death in the family’

A Pittsylvania County family is searching for one of its members, a 1959 Chevrolet Impala that paternal grandfather Irvin McDaniel bought new and called'59 Rag.

"This was like [Irvin's] baby," said Jennifer McDaniel, Irvin's daughter-in-law. "This was a part of the family."

Thieves took the convertible Saturday out of Irvin's driveway on Afton Road between 12:30 and 3 a.m., Jennifer said. Virginia State Police are investigating the crime, but the family has been doing investigating of its own.

Tony, Irvin's son, said he was on the phone for three hours Tuesday talking with police in Greensboro, N.C. The family passed out fliers with pictures of the car and phone numbers that people with information can call. Tony collected tips and visited an out-of-town business that he thought might have the Impala.

The family is looking desperately for the car and is offering a reward for its return.

The McDaniel family took trips in the car to Daytona Beach, Fla., and drove the Impala on the beach when that was still legal. Irvin, Tony and his son were about to start restoring the Impala, which was the reason they moved the convertible to the driveway, Jennifer said.

Tony's parents bought the convertible when they got married. Irvin's wife died a year ago.

"It's caused us being out of work, a lot of stress and time," Tony said. "It almost feels like a death in the family."

Matt Tomsic is a staff writer for the Register & Bee in Danville.