For Cory Knutson, a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner is more than a classic car—it is a piece of his family's history. Knutson showcased the two-door hardtop during the Zegil Automotive & Transmission and Pure Country Meats Car Show at the Strathmore Ag Grounds on July 11, sharing the story behind the vehicle that has connected generations of his family. The story began in 1969, when Knutson's father bought his first new car, a Plymouth Road Runner during the height of the muscle car era. "It was the first good car that he bought off the lot," Knutson recalled. "It was the first sports car of the time in the big muscle car era." His father owned the vehicle for about five years before selling it after Knutson and his brother were born to help support the family. Even after it left the driveway, the Road Runner remained a family legend. "Growing up for 20 years, we heard nothing but this Road Runner story," Knutson said. "He had recited the build specs to us so much that we knew the build sheet off by heart. We could tell the colour and combinations of everything you could order." Years later, after Knutson and his brother had moved out, they decided to try to bring the car back into the family. "We thought it would be a great thing to finally shut him up and get this car back for him," he said. "So we started hunting." The search took five years before they found another 1970 Plymouth Road Runner that matched the original model. The vehicle was located in Minnesota. "The one we found was an original owner car," Knutson explained. "So we paid for a plane ticket, bought the car and sent him and our mom down to Minnesota to drive it back to Alberta." After returning home, Knutson's father added his own personal touches to the vehicle, creating new memories with a car that already carried so much family history. The Road Runner stayed with his father until he passed away from cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Related Stories: Strongman provincials, cornhole tournament to be held in Strathmore Zegil Automotive celebrates 10 years through community BBQ Classic cars: a keepsake that lasts generations Today, Knutson continues to take care of the vehicle. "I continue to maintain it, fix it, drive it, enjoy the memories, and take my mom whenever she comes down to visit," Knutson said. "Take her out for ice cream in it, and get to watch her relive memories of dating dad and all that stuff." Knutson has cared for the vehicle for more than three years and continues to bring it to car shows throughout the region. "It takes a lot of effort and work and cost to maintain these old things, but when they have family connections like that, then it's always worthwhile," he said. The Road Runner also continues to draw attention wherever it goes. "It's almost as recognizable as driving a Lamborghini or something crazy," Knutson said. "Lots of people stop and honk. There's lots of people that'll stop and give you a thumbs up or head nods." Part of that attention comes from the vehicle's connection to the famous Road Runner character from Warner Bros., including a horn that mimics the character's recognizable voice. "It's a totally different feel than anything else you've ever driven," Knutson said. "But it's almost like driving a cartoon car." After spanning multiple generations, Knutson hopes the Road Runner remains a family heirloom for years to come. "When I first brought it down and was driving with my kids, they thought it was noisy, it didn't have AC, it was loud and smelled like gas," he said. "Now after a year or two, they're telling their friends they have a Road Runner in the garage, and their friends are coming over to toot the horn. Everybody wants to experience it." StrathmoreNow encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the StrathmoreNow app.