MTFCA Forum

An old mechanic recalled this story yesterday when I was getting my 39 Dodge's 6 monthly safety check (required here in NZ)

When the Dodge was on the hoist he recalled the following.

Years ago a old fella told him he worked for Leckie Ford in "Gore" here in New Zealand. A lady bought a new 46 Ford V8 in for its 500 mile service. She returned with some shopping and service guy new the family and that the lady who had a "fleet" of good looking daughters so to impress her he said I throw those in the back seat for you. He placed a step ladder beside the hoist, climber up, put the boxes in and swung the door shut while climbing down. The lady thanked him and went to the waiting room. When he finished the service he lowered the old compressed air hoist down (back facing the car while turning valves) The rear door swung open and stopped above the ladder and the new 46 was tipped off the hoist and landed on the concrete floor on its side!

He never did get to date one of those daughters.

Now that IS a funny story !

New cars were very hard to get in 1946.

I was recently talking to a retired mechanic at a local show. Pointing to a 'barn find' 'survivor' car (can't recall what it was - a 'flash yank tank' from the 50's I think he spoke up loudly that he recognised the car - it had belonged to a local farmer and being a 'flash' car it stuck in his mind.

"I remember doing the valve lapping at it s 32,000 mile service" he said, it gave the farmer many more years of service after that too. The seller scowled and was not happy at all - the sale card (which the mechanic had not seen) was boldly touting it as an 'Original 16,000 miles on the clock.....