I don’t remember exactly when this story took place. It was one of those things that is interesting but insignificant. However, you find that 70 years later, most of the details seem fresh and can be recalled. When this event took place, I was working full time, so it was 1954 or 1955.

I was working at Howard Motors, our local Chevrolet/Buick dealer in Augusta, Kansas. One Monday morning, I had gotten to work early, my usual practice, so I could get a cup of coffee before the day started.  I punched in and got my coffee and saw several of the guys standing around a car as they sipped their morning coffees. I went over and joined them and got a look at the fancy little car they were talking about. They said it was a Volkswagen, a German car, and the first one they had ever seen. I don’t remember the exact comment, but they were saying how strange the car was. “It’s so tiny! The engine is in the rear! Where is the radiator? It looks like a toy beside the Buick Roadmasters!”

We found out that the Volkswagen’s owners had neglected to check the oil, and the engine had burned up. Our Service Manager, Kenneth Markley, had taken the wrecker out and towed the car in. We not only had never seen a Volkswagen, but we had never heard of them either.

Since the car was such a curiosity, it was decided that we should keep it in the garage rather than leaving it outside on the lot. If it was in the way, a couple of us could push it to another spot.

One morning, one of the guys wanted to do a front-end alignment, and the VW was so close you couldn’t use the machine. The VW just needed to be moved laterally three or four feet to make some room. Two of the mechanics were making a big deal of the move and considered it to be a big pain in the butt. Our Service Manager, Kenny, happened to be walking past and overheard the conversation. Kenny, who was a big bear of a man, stepped over to the car, took hold of the bumper, and raised the VW up waist-high. He took a couple of steps sideways and put it down. Then he walked around to the other end, picked up the car, stepped sideways, and put it down. It was all over in a few seconds, and Kenny said, “Is this where you wanted it?” The two mechanics were left standing there looking sheepish and stupid. I learned that if Kenny was ever driving a VW, he would never have a problem with parallel parking.

It took several days to get parts from the East Coast, but eventually, the VW was repaired and on its way.

Dave Thomas

12/19/2024