An old vehicle has become the symbol for a drug prevention program, officials said.

The Story County Sheriff’s Office recently received a 1964 Ford custom 500 to represent its DARE (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) program.

Leroy Rasmussen of Nevada donated the black-and-white car a year ago after owning it for the past 14 years.

“One of the sheriff’s deputies was good friends with me and approached me a couple of times,” he said. “We quit driving it, so me and my wife decided to donate to the program. We got two little boys, and if we got them not to use drugs it would be worth it.”

Since it began in 1993, the DARE program’s official vehicle was a regular marked patrol car.

Deputy George McGuire of the Story County Sheriff’s Office said the agency decided to accept the car because it wanted more attention.

“We wanted to get people’s attention, and we definitely did,” he said. “It’s also another way to have positive contact with the public.”

After a year of restoring the vehicle to its original condition, the Story County Sheriff’s Office revealed it to the media last week.

McGuire said he hopes the vehicle will help citizens see law enforcement as someone they know, not as someone who puts them in jail or gives them tickets.

Nine businesses donated time, labor and money to help restore the vehicle. Among them were two Ames businesses: Crowner Tire & Automotive Center, Inc., 2910 S. Duff Ave., and First Class Signs, 116 Washington Ave.

McGuire said the only money the Story County Sheriff’s Office spent was from contributions from the community.

“With everyone wanting to do their own little part, we got what we have right now,” he said.

The car will be make its first public appearance at Nevada’s annual Scandinavian Days, which is during the first week of June.