Share this article:

You never forget your first love — even if it’s a 1962 Chevrolet Corvair Spyder. So it went with “Leave it to Beaver” star Tony Dow, now 71 and living near Malibu.

Dow recently got back the car, which he owned during his late teen years playing Wally Cleaver — the Beaver’s older brother.

As The San Diego Union-Tribune recounted, Dow drove his Corvair for four years before selling it to Alan Dadisman, who once made props for Universal Studios.

“The actor never dreamed he would see that car again, much less own it. Until, that is, he and his wife, Lauren, received a call recently from a stranger who identified himself as Marty Tryon,” the paper said.

“The caller from Jamul explained that a dear friend had recently passed away and had asked Marty to track down Dow, the Spyder’s former owner, and give him the Corvair. Dadisman thought the actor might like to have his first car back.”

“At first I thought this guy was kidding,” Dow was quoted as saying. “Who keeps a car for 51 years, then goes to the effort to try to find its former owner to give it back? It was Al’s first car, too.”.

Last Thursday, their wedding anniversary, the Dows hired a tow truck driver to return the vehicle to their Topanga Canyon home.

Leave it to Wally Cleaver: Tony Dow gets beloved car back was last modified: by

>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!

Follow us: