Most people like to keep mementos of vacations, birthdays, special occasions and other events in their lives, but few have a memento the size of Al and Sherry Hilberger.
The couple stood arm-in-arm in their Cottonwood garage next to an artesian turquoise metallic Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu station wagon and smiled.
“This was the first car we bought together as husband and wife on Aug. 20, 1965. It was brand new.” Al Hilberger said. “We just bought it back Aug. 20 this year — 47 years to the day from when we first bought it.” The station wagon has quite a history — all of it within the family — from when Hilberger drove it off the lot of Ed Priester Chevrolet in Montrose, Calif.
“I thought it would make a great family car, and we were going to start a family. The dealership wanted $3,200 for it but I told them I’d only pay $3,000,” Hilberger said and laughed. “By the time we’re done with getting it back in shape now it’ll be $30,000, but it’s not about the money. It’s nice to have it back — and here it’ll stay.”
For the full story, see the Wednesday, Sept. 19, edition of The Camp Verde Journal or the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
