"This is just a miracle, a miracle. I was 36 years old then and now I'm 82," said the now-retired Schneider after California customs agents told him the good news.
"Never in anybody's lifetime would I think I would see this car again," he added.
His two-door 1967 XKE Jaguar convertible was stolen outside his home on the night of March 13, 1968. It was worth $5,000 at the time.
Today, despite years' worth of dings, scratches and a few rust spots, the car is priced at $23,600.
In top shape, the vintage wheels could fetch around $100,000 in today's market.
The cargo ship had already sailed out of California's Long Beach Port when authorities ran a routine stolen car scan and discovered the bootlegged Jaguar along with four other stolen vehicles.
Schneider, a luxury car enthusiast, has since owned several cars, but none as special as his XKE.
"It was my first good car and favorite. It's a wonderful car," said Schneider, who now lives in Florida.
"I used to get up at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning on either Saturday or Sunday and drive it 90 to 100 (miles per hour) on the highway in New York," he remembered nostalgically.
He promised to be more careful with his newly-recovered ride, and said he looks forward to restoring it to its former beauty.
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