The 1954 Ford Crestline convertible was like a member of the family to Dick Fischerkeller.

The Shaler man watched Tuesday as the car, now speckled with ash, was driven onto a flatbed tow truck and hauled away from the STORExpress location in Etna, nearly six weeks after a massive May 8 fire tore through the building.

“It’s sad to see it go,” Fischerkeller said. “It’s one of the few things that our whole family could do together that we liked.”

He took photos of the car, the fifth he’s owned since becoming a classic car hobbyist 35 years ago. Fischerkeller said he opted to take insurance money instead of repairing the car. He plans to use that money to buy another classic car.