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Good Samaritan rebuilds Nova for AC officer wounded in shooting

Published  November 21, 2016 5:58pm EST
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

Hatboro, Pa. (WTXF) - A Good Samaritan is rebuilding a Nova for an officer who was shot in the line of duty.

FOX 29's Bruce Gordon shares the act of kindness.

Search the garage at Manncave Custom and Performance shop and you'll see what a 1976 Chevy Nova looks like in about a thousand pieces. Then stop and chat with shop owner Jimmy Buckley to learn what a random act of kindness looks like.

"Everybody's grateful for what police officers do in general -- whether it's Josh or anyone else-- and this is our turn so we can pay it forward," said Jimmy Buckley with Manncave Custom & Performance Shop:

"Josh" is Atlantic City police officer Josh Vadell who was shot in the head while interrupting an armed robbery back in September. Less than two weeks later, Vadell was on his way to rehab in Cheltenham when through the police grapevine a Hatboro cop Drew Valleley learned that Vadell had inherited the '76 Nova from his late father. They been working to get it back on the road.

Valleley called Buckley and, "The sentence is halfway out of my mouth 'Hey Jimmy this injured officer he has his dad's car and he wants to fix up ' and Jimmy cuts me off. 'Drew we got to go get that car.," said Officer Valleley.

Buckley had the Nova towed from Atlantic City to Hatboro on his dime, then began tearing it apart for a complete rebuild: new engine, new brakes, new suspension and air-conditioning.

Finding parts for the Nova hasn't been easy.

"It's a real struggle and I have been on the computer, I've been online everything to try and get this stuff," Buckley explained.

But Buckley's buddies in the industry are helping the rebuild with free or discounted work. The goal: a better-than-new car delivered to Vadell on New Year's Eve. Not just a car an incentive to get back behind the wheel. And maybe even more.

"Maybe it'll bring back a couple of the memories of when he was young with his father. And you know what? My job's done," said Buckley.

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