The fast truck, a rare GMC Syclone, was stolen from someone having a hard time. It was not likely to be found again. But a reasonable person in the GMC truck group found the stolen Syclone and spent their money to ensure it got there safely and the thief was caught. It’s possible to think of the GMC Syclone as the pinnacle of the Chevrolet S-10, which it was based on in its first generation. It came with 280 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, all-wheel drive, a four-speed automatic gearbox, and a 4.3-liter turbocharged V6 engine. It could go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, which made it faster than many purpose-built sports cars. It was one of the most famous speed cars of the 1990s. The Typhoon and its SUV sibling are now expensive because only 3,000 were made. That’s why the one in our story was picked. Someone named Jake Rowe found the stolen truck. He told us he was looking for a Syclone and found one near Odessa, Texas. It was surprisingly cheap at $4,200 since asking prices can go up to $30,000. But he was careful, and at first glance, it looked like the truck was real. The seller said they got the GMC in return for cleaning up the property of an older adult whose husband had lost the title before he died. The deal came with a bill of sale and a phone number that seemed to belong to the woman (which was answered). The VIN was not reported as stolen. Rowe became doubtful right away after buying the truck. “I got the truck home, and got back on Facebook, and noticed the truck was listed by a different man with a different price,” said Rowe. When I inquired as to how he obtained it, he told me the same tale about a different woman.”So I could tell there was an issue.” The following day, he used the truck’s serial number, 0027, to get help from the Syclone group on Facebook to learn more about its history. It turned out that the person who sold it to him was someone other than the legal owner. The rightful owner didn’t know it had been stolen and hadn’t insured it. After helping the police bring the dishonest seller to justice, Rowe was able to find the actual owner and give the truck back to them. “If I hadn’t bought it, the owner would never have seen the truck again,” according to Rowe. “The drivetrain would have sold for twice as much if the cab had been taken off.”I was aware that even if I made the purchase, I might end up losing some of the money to allow the owner to retrieve their truck. Yes, things don’t end well for everyone in this situation. According to the cops, Rowe shouldn’t expect his money back because the owner can’t pay to fix their truck. “I’m in no way rich enough to afford the loss, but I know what it’s like to have my cars stolen and don’t want anyone to feel that way,” said Rowe. Still, a GoFundMe page set up by thankful Syclone residents, not Rowe himself, has raised over $1,100, which could mean a happy finish for Rowe. Please get him a Syclone while we’re on his side. He had been through the storm before for someone else, and now someone needs to bring some sunshine into this cloud.
