Papa John’s going on a cross-country trip to find his 1972 Z28 Camaro

John Schnatter, otherwise known as “Papa” John, is the founder and chairman of Papa John’s International. He founded the company in 1984 with $1,600 dollars that was needed to pay for the initial equipment for his first store. Today Papa John’s has grown to more than 3,000 stores in over 26 countries and has a market value of $750 million.

Of course, it wasn’t all fun and success for Schnatter. Like every other business started from the ground up, there was a lot of blood, sweat and tear involved.

One of the many sacrifices Schnatter made was giving up his 1972 gold-and-black Z28 Camaro to get the $1,600 he needed to start his pizzeria dreams. Well, Papa John now wants his Camaro back and is willing to give whoever has it, or finds it, a $25,000 reward. Schnatter will be going on a cross-country search for his lost car in another Z28 he purchased a couple years ago (pictured above).

Of course, at this time you might think that this is some clever marketing campaign - and it is. The search for the Papa John’s Z28 Camaro has a website and everything - but at the end of the day, John just wants his baby back (believe us we know the feeling).

Recalling his emotions at the time when selling his original Camaro Z28 Papa John said: “it was so painful I had to look away so I couldn’t see it driving off.”