It is approximately 400 miles from Miles City to Helena, Montana's capital. I accepted a job in the USPFO - MT National Guard in July of 79. One of the women in the Finance Department located an apartment for me. Housing was very hard to come by. This one hadn't even been advertised.
As I looked at the packed car my eyes did a visual inspection. The front looked good. The oil had started to drip. The trunk had finally been opened and I now spent my change on new bungee cords. Otherwise the trunk lid would fly up at inopportune moments en route. I finished packing my belongings in the LTD then headed west.
After starting my new job I soon became acquainted with the unit mechanics. I had been there a few months when Sgt Petik said he would change my oil. I was in the bay when he popped the hood. Looked it over, poked and prodded.
"Hrmf. Ruth this oil is pretty clean."
"I changed it a couple of months ago," He poked and prodded some more. Shook his head. Started the car and listened to the engine.
"This engine sounds pretty good. You cared for it?"
"Yeah, try to. You're surprised?"
"Mmhmm. Looking at the body I figured you probably didn't." He then asked what happened to the back bumper and trunk. After listening to my story he made a suggestion.
"Could put a hasp on the trunk and add a padlock. Should work better than the bungee cords." He got a hasp and drilled holes in the trunk lid. Then bolted it down. He was right it worked great. The hood never flew up on me again.
As time went by and the miles racked up I spent more time at service stations checking the gas and filling the oil. Actually, I bought oil by the case.
One of the auditors told me about a government car auction. These were cars that had been removed from service and were auctioned off to the public. The auction in question was being held right on post - Fort Harrison, Helena, MT.
I went to the auction about 20 minutes before it started and picked out a bronze 77 Plymouth Fury. It seemed to call to me. When it came up for auction I bid and got it for $300.00.
The next day I drove it to a training site for drill. After drill several of the guys came out to look it over. Skip a local mechanic was one of them.
"Ruth, did you have someone check the car out before you bought it?"
"No." They looked at each other, shook their collective heads. Then popped the hood.
It evidently had a souped up engine, because they were drooling. Maybe a better word would be lusting.
'You want to sell it?"
"No, I bought it to drive."
"I'll give you $500 for the engine."
"Don't I need the engine to make it go?"
"Yah, but Ruth its SWEET. You made a really good buy."
He was right it had power. That machine rode smooth and I had to keep it in check because it cruised at 90 if I wasn't watching close. There was no cruise control. When I read the records on the car it had been an unmarked "police" vehicle.
One of my coworkers bought the LTD. It broke my heart when I learned they planned to use it in a demolition derby. I felt like I had betrayed a good friend.
"Could put a hasp on the trunk and add a padlock. Should work better than the bungee cords." He got a hasp and drilled holes in the trunk lid. Then bolted it down. He was right it worked great. The hood never flew up on me again.
As time went by and the miles racked up I spent more time at service stations checking the gas and filling the oil. Actually, I bought oil by the case.
One of the auditors told me about a government car auction. These were cars that had been removed from service and were auctioned off to the public. The auction in question was being held right on post - Fort Harrison, Helena, MT.
I went to the auction about 20 minutes before it started and picked out a bronze 77 Plymouth Fury. It seemed to call to me. When it came up for auction I bid and got it for $300.00.
The next day I drove it to a training site for drill. After drill several of the guys came out to look it over. Skip a local mechanic was one of them.
"Ruth, did you have someone check the car out before you bought it?"
"No." They looked at each other, shook their collective heads. Then popped the hood.
It evidently had a souped up engine, because they were drooling. Maybe a better word would be lusting.
'You want to sell it?"
"No, I bought it to drive."
"I'll give you $500 for the engine."
"Don't I need the engine to make it go?"
"Yah, but Ruth its SWEET. You made a really good buy."
He was right it had power. That machine rode smooth and I had to keep it in check because it cruised at 90 if I wasn't watching close. There was no cruise control. When I read the records on the car it had been an unmarked "police" vehicle.
One of my coworkers bought the LTD. It broke my heart when I learned they planned to use it in a demolition derby. I felt like I had betrayed a good friend.
