The ad said, "1969 Bronco for sale." Upon closer inspection, members of the Georgia Broncos Club discovered this was more than a classic car. It once belonged to Phillip “Paw Paw” Brown, a devoted family man and Bronco enthusiast.
His wish was to restore the cherished vehicle to its original glory so that his daughter Kymberly Matthews and grandchildren Zack Smith and Kylie Elliot could enjoy it for years to come. Sadly, Paw Paw passed away before fulfilling this dream, leaving the Bronco abandoned behind his home.
“When I think about my daddy there are a lot of things that come to mind, but the Bronco is in the forefront,” says Kymberly. “He loved that vehicle and was always doing something with it up until the day he left this earth.”
Faced with the harsh reality of limited resources and expertise, his family reluctantly decided to part with it. Little did they know this decision would spark a wave of compassion and support from an unexpected source.
Georgia Broncos Club founder Brian LaFluer couldn’t stand by idly. He assembled a team of members, volunteers and sponsors to save the vehicle. “This is far beyond the typical restoration project,” says Brian. “The emotional connection runs deep and we wanted to help keep the Bronco in the family.”
Lead builders Gabe and Erin Donnelson of Strange Klassics Garage eagerly took on the project. They explain, “The goal was not just to restore a vehicle, but to revive the spirit of someone special and give the family more beautiful memories with it.”
The Bronco required extensive work to bring it back to life. That included metalwork, rust repair, engine refurbishment, and a complete overhaul of the vehicle's systems. The team not only restored it, but documented the journey in a five-part video series produced by Tran Bui Productions, which can be seen on the group's YouTube channel, website, Facebook and Instagram pages.
The revised Bronco will be revealed and presented to the family at a special event hosted by Deep Roots Wine Market and Tasting Room in Roswell later this month. Paw Paw was a Scout leader for more than 30 years and loved going on camping trips. Kymberly plans to take the Bronco to his favorite campsite on its first drive.
“We are overwhelmed and forever grateful to the Georgia Broncos Club community for their kindness and graciousness,” Kymberly says. “It's never easy to lose someone, especially your daddy, best friend and hero, so having this Bronco feels like part of him is with me.”
For more information on how to join the Georgia Broncos Club or how to donate to the Paw Paw Brown Project, check out GeorgiaBroncos.com or email community@georgiabroncos.com.