I WAS GAINING A REPUTATION FOR TRADING FOR ANYTHING ON WHEELS EVEN NON-FUNCTIONING NON-RUNNING VEHICLES. I MADE A TRADE WITH A GUY FROM THE BASE WHO SAID, I WANT TO TRADE YOU MY OLD 1955 PLYMOUTH SAVOY GO TO WORK CAR. IT LOOKS AWFUL AND IT LOOKED AWFUL WHEN IT WAS NEW. I WILL MAKE A DEAL WITH YOU. BRING A LEASH AND DRAG THIS DOG HOME. HERE IS A LESSON FOR EVERYONE. NEVER EVER RUN DOWN A MAN’S CAR. YOU MIGHT AS WELL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT HIS MAMA.
WHEN I SAW THE PLYMOUTH AS YOU SEE IT HERE, I COULD TELL HE WAS EMBARRASSED BY ITS APPEARANCE AND LACK OF CLEANLINESS. I SAID, SAY I’LL BET THAT CAR HAS BEEN GOOD TO YOU. HE SAID, IT REALLY HAS. I KNOW IT DON’T LOOK LIKE MUCH AND MY KIDS LEARNED TO DRIVE IN IT. BUT HERE COMES THE CLOSE. I SAID, IT HAS SUCCUMBED TO AGE. IT’S TOO NICE OF A CAR NOT TO PERFORM SOME NEEDED MAINTENANCE AND BEAUTY TREATMENTS.
I GAVE HIM A FIGURE AND HE SAID, THAT’S MUCH LOWER THAN I HAD HOPED FOR. I DON’T THINK I CAN TAKE THAT. HIS WIFE SAID, YES YOU CAN. I AM SICK OF THAT THING, EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND AND NEED SOMETHING AROUND HERE, IT’S ERODED BY A REPAIR BILL FOR THAT UGLY CAR. WE TRADED. I DETAILED IT, SERVICED IT, SAFETY INSPECTED IT FOR BASE REQUIREMENTS AND IT WAS STANDING TALL.
NOTE THE DUAL EXHAUSTS. IT WAS A 361 V-8 WITH THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER ON THE DASH AS PICTURED. ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS IN THE BASE TRAILER PARK HAD BEEN WATCHING IT FOR SOME TIME AND WAITED UNTIL I WAS COMPLETELY DONE RECONDITIONING IT AND CAME OVER WITH HIS CHECKBOOK. HE SAID, HOW MUCH. THE CAR WAS SOLD.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT I NEVER STIFFED ANYONE ON A CAR. HE CAME BACK SEVERAL MONTHS LATER AND SAID HE LOVED THE CAR, BUT HE HAD TO PUT A NEW GENERATOR AND STARTER ON THE CAR BUT OTHERWISE IT WAS FINE. I SAID, WHAT DID THAT COST YOU. HE TOLD ME, AND I WROTE HIM A CHECK FOR ALL HIS REPAIRS INCLUDING LABOR. HE SAID, I DON’T BELIEVE THIS. I SAID, I DO IT BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW I WILL DO WHAT I CAN TO MAKE IT RIGHT. MANY PEOPLE, AIRMEN AND CIVILIANS, CAME TO ME FOR ADVICE FOR A FUTURE CAR OR MORE IMPORTANTLY ADVICE ON THEIR PRESENT VEHICLES.