Clyde and Lorraine were very happy with their purchase, and kept the car for many years. After test- driving a Nova, a Maverick and the Dart, they wrote a check to the Dodge dealer. Since Clyde always had Mondays off, he and Lorraine returned to the various dealerships the next morning. He suspected that when he came back tomorrow, the Dodge salesman would likely be more willing to negotiate than the guy at the Chevrolet dealer. The fact the base price of a Dart Custom was within $4 of the base price of a Nova Custom helped Clyde salve his Dodge paranoia. They had told him nearly unfathomable stories of sadistic treatment of slant six and 318 cubic inch V8 engines that even if half true would make this a nearly indestructible machine.

as he had always owned GM products–also knew from his customers that a Dart or Valiant was, in their collective opinion, the best thing ever offered by the Chrysler Corporation. Clyde–typically one to suffer from Dodgephobia. Lorraine really liked the color she said it wouldn’t show dirt very easily, and at least it wasn’t one of the metallic greens, golds, or browns so often seen on contemporary new cars. Clyde was not thrilled about the idea, but figured why not? As they pulled into the Dodge dealer’s driveway, they saw this baby blue Dart sitting just outside the showroom. The Maverick’s demeanor just didn’t make the sale for them.ĭiscouraged, Lorraine suggested they stop at the Dodge dealer. As they suspected they would have their next car for quite a long time, they wanted something they’d like, as well as something durable. She and Clyde both thought the Maverick was a decent-looking vehicle, but something about it just wasn’t inviting.

When it came to smaller cars, they weren’t enthralled with the Nova, and as a barber, Clyde had heard from enough different men that he shouldn’t touch a Vega with a 10-foot pole.Ī bit later, while walking the lot at the Ford dealer, Lorraine commented that the tail lights were identical on the Pinto and Maverick.

They realized basic transportation was all they needed, as extravagance simply wasn’t a part of their economic reality.Īs Clyde and Lorriane perused new-car lots later that day, they weren’t impressed with anything Chevrolet had to offer. He and Lorraine never went very far from home, their extended families lived nearby, and their only child had just left for college. It seemed their 1962 Chevy II had finally given up the ghost when a rod decided to explore new territory within the engine block.Ĭlyde had been self-employed as a barber for the past 21 years. (first posted ) It was a warm day in the spring of 1974, and Clyde and Lorriane were sitting at their kitchen table that Sunday morning discussing their need for improved transportation.

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