-Classic Restoration Enterprises with help from the automotive industry, has begun restoring a ’55 T-Bird for New York Port Authority Police Sergeant John McLoughlin. McLoughlin was one of the first rescue officers on scene of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

McLoughlin barely survived being buried under 30 ft of rubble of Tower Two for 22 hours. Once rescued, he was put in a medically-induced coma for six weeks and underwent 27 surgeries. To date, he has also endured 25 additional surgeries. Rather than allow doctors to amputate his legs, McLoughlin fought to walk.

When McLoughlin came in and I heard his stories, it truly touched my heart. Then I took one look at the car of his dreams and the condition it was in and realized not only had he been swindled but it was a driving time bomb. I knew right then and there that we should get involved free of charge and make his dream come true, and that’s just what we intend to do, especially with help from the industry!

The T-Bird, the car of McLoughlin’s dreams, will be presented to him at the 2007 SEMA Show. For more on McLoughlin’s story, watch "World Trade Center," the Oliver Stone film which uses McLoughlin (played by Nicolas Cage) as a central character.