Tom Cotter stands near his red Shelby Cobra on Monday, July 30, 2018, in Anchorage, Alaska. The classic convertible was damaged when a bear broke into it last week while Cotter was touring the state with a group of friends also driving classic Shelby Cobras. (AP Photo/Rachel D'Oro)
July 30, 2018 - 1:53 PM
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Latest on a rare vintage car damaged by bear that broke into it in Alaska (all times local):
12:30 p.m.
Tom Cotter says he'll leave the dents in his rare vintage car for a while to relish the Alaska vacation story behind it. It's not every day that a pricey collector's item is damaged by a bear breaking into the vehicle to steal cookies.
Cotter, or Davidson, North Carolina, tells The Associated Press he'll hold onto the experience because "it's bar room talk."
Cotter's red 1965 289 Shelby Cobra sustained major damage to the vinyl roof and dents on the body when the bear broke into it last week at Alyeska Ski Resort, south of Anchorage. Fellow traveller, Woody Woodruff of Charlotte, North Carolina, had left a package of Fig Newtons in the car, and the cookies were missing after the breakin.
Cotter was leaving Alaska Monday after he toured the state for two weeks in his Cobra and several other car collectors, including Woodruff.
Cotter says he expects his insurance to cover the damages.
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10:15 p.m.
A North Carolina man driving a classic convertible through Alaska has learned his car isn't impenetrable to bears.
KTUU-TV reports Tom Cotter found his red Shelby Cobra with a gaping hole in the roof and claw scratches all over the body after staying the night last week at Alyeska Ski Resort, southeast of Anchorage.
Cotter has been touring the state with three friends in classic Shelby Cobras. He says the car's value is "approaching seven figures."
Cotter says the 53-year-old roof was able to survive all these years, but it "couldn't manage to survive 11 days in Alaska."
The bear likely entered the car for a snack. A friend of Cotter's admitted to leaving Fig Newtons behind the seat.
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Information from: KTUU-TV, http://www.ktuu.com
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Information from: KTUU-TV, http://www.ktuu.com
News from © The Associated Press, 2018