Chevy Camaro ZL1 Wrecked by Dealership Employee (PHOTO)

Jan 11, 2014 10:59 AM EST | Matt Mercuro

A Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 owned by car enthusiast John Hopper was taken to a dealership last year for minor repair work, but ended up being wrecked after an employee took the vehicle for a spin.

Now the dealership is refusing to pay for the damages, according to the Inquisitr.

Hooper first took his ZL1 to First State Chevy in Georgetown, Delaware to get warranty work done on a paint problem. Supposedly when the dealership wasn't open, an employee at the dealership took the keys and went for a joyride.

The employee wound up driving the car into a telephone pole, according to Hooper.

"The dealership informed my wife and I on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. of our loss," Hooper said on a Camaro forum. "Yes, they waited over 16 hours to tell us about our car. I am sure they discussed the incident with their attorneys prior to calling us.

The employee has since been fired, but the damage has already been done. Despite the fact that the ZL1 had almost 10,000 miles on it, the dealership only offered a used ZL1 in exchange for his troubles.

Hooper determined the replacement option didn't match the value of his wrecked vehicle.

"The car has been officially totaled by the insurance company, and the dealership is telling us it is not their problem," said Hopper on the forum. "They even refuse to provide my wife and I (and our insurance company) with their insurance information."

Hooper loves Camaros so much he has written six books on the history of vehicle.

He had to sell a mint 1969 Camaro SS and trade in his 2011 SS2 Camaro in order to afford the ZL1.

"We're losing sleep over this, time off from work, and this still isn't resolved," Hooper said to the Cape Gazette. "This is so ethically and morally wrong it isn't funny."

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