Don approached the museum and they turned out to be more than willing to have him undertake the project. "I was getting a lot of static from my Board members and from neighbors. It looked like an unsightly piece of junk, but I knew someone would fall in love with it. And along came Don," said John Martin Smith, President of NATMUS. He worked out a plan through their "Partner Program" that allowed Don to get underway.
 
While NATMUS owns the vehicle, Don could only oversee the project if he could have it towed to his home in Beaverdam near Zeeland, Michigan. NATMUS agreed and Don launched what became a 5-year long, all-volunteer restoration project. Over 30 volunteer men and women and countless donations of talent, materials and money resurrected a piece of GM history. The Futurliner made its return debut at the June 2003 Eyes on Design classic car show held at the GM Design Center. This was a fitting setting for a vehicle that is a tribute to the design direction of the legendary GM design chief, Harley Earl. It made an impression on today’s executives. Bob Lutz, Chairman of GM was heard to say "You guys are heroes of GM."

Don and his crew weren’t the only ones devoted to these icons of Americana. Two others were restored, one of which sold at auction in January 2006.

The annual Barrett-Jackson auction turns Scottsdale, Arizona into the epicenter of the collector car hobby. The futuristic 1950 General Motors Futurliner Parade of Progress Tour Bus was a top draw for twenty thousand automotive fans who’d assembled in the nine-story auction tent and the viewers who turned the event into the number one attraction on the SPEED Channel. To keep things interesting, a 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special concept car, also designed under the watchful eye of GM’s legendary Harley Earl, was brought to the block just before the Futurliner. These two cars provided ample excitement.