North Dakota man celebrating 40 years at company surprised with the keys to a restored 1972 Corvette by his boss
Published on Nov 06, 2026 at 7:03 PM (UTC-5)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Nov 06, 2026 at 7:03 PM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This North Dakota man got the ultimate work treat for 40 years of service, when his boss surprised him with a restored 1972 Corvette.
Mike Boock had worked at WCCO Belting for four decades, and his employers felt he was deserving of something bigger than a bonus.
At first, he was given a toy model of a Corvette, but that was just the warm-up act.
A life-size 1972 Corvette was waiting for him.
Is it common practice for employers to give their employees cars?
For most people, a hefty Christmas bonus is the most they might expect from their boss.
But there are exceptional cases in which gifts of a more substantial nature are given out as tokens of appreciation.
And if those gifts happen to have four wheels, you can count yourself very lucky.
Whether it’s Katy Perry giving out an electric sports car to her assistants, or Steve Jobs dishing out Porsches to his employees, there’s plenty of bosses going above and beyond.
That includes our very own Alex Hirschi, aka Supercar Blondie, who bought one of her employees a BMW X6 M50i.
In whatever form it takes, a car from an employer is a very generous gift – and it often leaves the recipient stunned.
This North Dakota man got a big surprise after 40 years at his company – a 1972 Corvette
After 40 years of working at WCCO Belting, Mike Boock was being celebrated at a big work dinner.
The shipping and receiving manager had seen the company – based in Wahpeton, North Dakota – grow from a small repair shop into a multi-million dollar manufacturing company.
Seeing a company through that level of growth deserves a memento, right?
At first, it looked like his team had done so with a sense of humor, by gifting him a toy model version of a Corvette.
That might have been nice enough on its own, but it certainly wasn’t 40 years of hard work levels of appreciation.
That’s where the real car came into the picture.
Beneath the model was a set of keys, and it was at this point that the life-size Corvette was brought into the room.
What did he think of the Corvette he’d been given?
As you might imagine, being surprised with a 1972 Corvette was a rather emotional moment for Boock.
“I’m on top of the world,” Boock said.
“I never expected anything like this. This is beautiful.
“It says a lot about the family and the family business, for them to do something like this for their employees. I really appreciate it.”
In the mind of the CEO, this incredibly kind gesture was entirely warranted.
“If someone is willing to dedicate 40 years of his or her life to our family business, this is the least we can do,” he said.
WCCO Belting have really set the bar high.
Now other employees will be feeling short shifted when they receive a gift card or a bottle of champagne on their work anniversaries.
The best of Supercar Blondie, every Sunday
The week's best car stories, straight to your inbox. Free.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
