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Hundreds helped surprise man with remodeled ’34 Ford Coupe

It’s a remodel project he couldn’t complete, so friends did it for him as a surprise.

LANGLEY, Illinois — Hundreds of people packed into the Psycho Silo Saloon in Langley, Illinois the afternoon of Sunday, July 24, to pull off a big surprise.

Most people would look at the 1934 Ford Coupe and think it's just a really cool car. But for Kookie Wetsel, it means much more. It's a project he began working on more than a decade ago, but after a stroke and other health problems left him wheelchair bound, he wasn't able to complete it.

Family and friends decided to take matter into their own hands and actually took the car out of Kookie's garage without him even knowing.

"We looked at the car and we ended up going out and talking to the family  and said we want to take the car and finish it," said Rick Barto, Kookie's friend.

The friends "stole" the car in February and it's been a secret since, but today was the big reveal.

"We're excited to give it back to him. He has no idea the car is even gone," said Barto.

For a moment, Kookie wasn't sure the car was for him. It was an emotional surprise for Kookie, that everyone felt.

"Bout had a tear in my own eye... It's a pretty awesome deal. And we're not doing it for our recognition. We just wanted to help an old buddy," said Wally Stoghdill, Kookie's friend. "He worked with me many nights until midnight helping me on my racecar. Always more than willing to come on over and help... and he would do that with anybody."

Kookie's family got him to show up at the Saloon by telling him there was a car racing reunion going on. He had no idea when he showed up that everyone was actually there for him.

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