MANCHESTER — March was the last time Sims Dahrooge saw his favorite car, a 1973 Dodge Challenger that he and his father had spent five years restoring into a plum-toned relic of pulsating power.

When Dahrooge and his father, Aaron, visited his late grandmother's garage in Worcester, Mass., in late March, they discovered the hot rod missing.

But on Tuesday afternoon, Manchester police opened a bay door at the police station, reuniting the father and son with their lost prize.

Dusty and slightly dented, the car drew them to it like a missing, bruised child would draw a parent after being found. They ran their fingers over it.

“I told you I'd be back,” whispered Aaron Dahrooge, whose lost car became national news when he complained about Bank of America's role in its disappearance.

Eighteen-year-old Sims teared up.

“Everyone told me I would never see it again. Teachers, friends, they said hope for the best but prepare for the worst,” he said. He had even received an anonymous email saying the car had been crushed and sold for scrap.

Manchester police recovered the car Monday when they arrested two city men — Patrick Peryer, 22, and Kurtis Lavigne, 27 — on Massachusetts warrants charging them with receiving a stolen motor vehicle.

Manchester police said Worcester police contacted them after Peryer registered the vehicle in New Hampshire, using its original vehicle identification number. They found the car in Lavigne's garage at 17 Dutton St.

“This investigation is ongoing and we believe that potentially other people are involved,” said police Lt. Maureen Tessier.

Five years ago, the Dahrooges acquired the car, which was wasting away in a farmer's field.

A mechanic, Aaron started what turned out to be a five-year project with Sims.

“It was a bonding experience for me and my son. Some people go to Red Sox games, we went to swap meets on the weekends,” Dahrooge said.

Most noticeable is the air-intake pipe sticking out of the hood. It is colored purple with a black racing stripe. It boasts Craiger wheels and a restored black interior. Its 340 cubic-inch engine is powered by dual four-barrel carburetors.

Dahrooge said it had been appraised at $85,000.

In June, the Worcester Telegram published an article about Dahrooge's stolen car. He had stored it in his mother's garage in Worcester. At the time of her death, Bank of America was foreclosing on the house.

When Dahrooge arrived one day, he found the garage locked, the car gone and a notice that the house had been winterized.

He suspected that the people hired by the bank to winterize the house took the car, but he could get no answers from the bank. His phone calls weren't returned. He said the bank even ignored subpoenas.

Bank of America started addressing the matter only after the publicity, Dahrooge said.

“Bank of America hired criminals. They did no background check at all and let criminals into the house,” he said.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Bank of America spokesman Kelly Sapp said the bank is fully cooperating with police and other legal authorities.

“The arrest will help us complete our investigation and determine next steps with the vendor. Bank of America placed an order with our contractor to secure the buildings, nothing more. We did not order the removal of the car or any other personal property,” Sapp said.

Police wouldn't answer questions about how Peryer and Lavigne got the car. Both appeared in Manchester District Court on Tuesday.

A judge set Peryer's bail at $30,000 cash/surety after he refused to waive extradition to Massachusetts.

Lavigne — whose criminal record includes assault, violation of probation, DWI, stalking, shoplifting and drug possession — pleaded with Judge Gregory Michael for personal recognizance bail. He said Tuesday was the last day of visitation with his daughter for a year.

“This is my last day with my daughter. I just need to be with my daughter,” he said.

Were Lavigne released Tuesday, he promised to return voluntarily to Massachusetts on Wednesday. Michael set bail at $15,000 cash/surety.

As for the Dahrooges, they will have to spend a lot of time with their baby.

A dented left front fender will likely have to be replaced, Sims said. The grille is broken. The transmission is blown and the rear tires are bald, leading the Dahrooges to believe that whoever had it was using it for burnouts and doughnuts.

And as Aaron Dahrooge loaded it on a flatbed for a trip back to Worcester, he had nothing but praise for Manchester and Worcester police. “I can't thank them enough,” he said.

Union Leader reporter Dale Vincent contributed to this article.

mhayward@unionleader.com