they push started the car wrong (for the most part)

Wally gets behind Lumpy's car to push it ... and then Eddie says to Lumpy
"OK you got her in gear ? Throw out the clutch Lump !" "OK give it the gas Wally " ...

THAT is not the best way to do it - you push the car in neutral or in gear with the clutch PUSHED IN - then after you got the car rolling pretty good you stop the pushing and back off - and THEN Lumpy would let the clutch out while in gear ... for the jump start -

Who writes these things ? LOL

I never thought of that. Throwing out the clutch would be trouble if the other car was still pushing.

also the rear view mirror of Wally's car appears & disappears MANY times throughout ...

The film editor was distracted.

Ahhh. This sure deserves a dissection.

Physically, it doesn't add up:

A broken headlight is the absolute least of the damage to Wally's ( ahem, Ward's ) car.

- The fact the right front part of the hood and right fender are badly scuffed/scraped. No way in hell will that compound out. A repaint job for sure. Also, the fact the hood was ajar could mean the front radiator support where the latch is located could be bent. If not that, the hood being forced back could have bent/distorted one of the hinges. Look, and you'll see the front edge of the hood is crooked. ( the gap between it and the grill )

- It's not just the headlamps themselves, the right headlight "bucket" assembly is broken so that you couldn't just remount the headlamps to them. From the look of it, it seems to actually be part of the grill, the whole thing needing to be replaced.

- The parking/side marker light lens is missing, and the housing itself may be trash too.

- The front bumper. Can't tell from the B&W film whether it's just paint from Lumpy's car or just scratches. Even if just scratches, no way to repair. Ergo, new bumper.

They may try to get it repaired on the cheap to get the car functional again, but as to restoring to the as-new condition, that would take more money than Wally and his deadbeat friends could ever scrape together...and it would take longer. Too long before his parents returned.

That would be a 2500 dollar job today, and maybe that's low. No doubt it would be be less in 1962, other than the obvious inflation factor. The car repair culture was different than today's where some places pad out the estimate knowing it's an insurance job, where insurance tends to total out a car with much much less damage than in the past.

In short, Wally was screwed the moment Lumpy was too ignorant to know you don't let out the clutch to jump start a car till you are rolling free.

nothing personal ... but what car(s) did Ward own ? Dodge ? not very stylist +- none were very attractive

nothing personal ... but what car(s) did Ward own ? Dodge ? not very stylist +- none were very attractive

That particular car was a 1963 Plymouth. The 1962 and 63 Plymouths ( and Dodges ) were controversial cars. Small for a full-sized car, and quirky styling. They got some heat for it; the '63 was more restrained, and they did a complete redesign for '64.

Most of the Chrysler cars of the late 50s early 60s had styling deemed bizarre even for the day. Some were quite futuristic looking for their time, even if a bit over-the-top. Styled by Virgil Exner. You either loved it or laughed at it.

My dad had a '61 Plymouth followed I think by a '63 Dodge. And yes, that was noticeably small.

The Plymouth was a lemon IIRC, which I think his friend at the dealership allowed him to trade for another one.

You guys are much more knowledgeable about how easily the repair could be made. I never question vintage eps too closely; as they often don’t make sense upon close examination.

But oh man poor Wally. When will he ever learn NOT to listen to Eddie! And to expect Lumpy to do something competently; the big dope even ends up accidentally spilling the beans to Ward about the car. If it wasn’t for Wally those two dopes would likely end up arrested one day for sure. And that Eddie-having an air sickness bag for an ep with Eddie is never a bad idea.

Ahhh. This sure deserves a dissection.

Physically, it doesn't add up:

A broken headlight is the absolute least of the damage to Wally's ( ahem, Ward's ) car.

- The fact the right front part of the hood and right fender are badly scuffed/scraped. No way in hell will that compound out. A repaint job for sure. Also, the fact the hood was ajar could mean the front radiator support where the latch is located could be bent. If not that, the hood being forced back could have bent/distorted one of the hinges. Look, and you'll see the front edge of the hood is crooked. ( the gap between it and the grill )

- It's not just the headlamps themselves, the right headlight "bucket" assembly is broken so that you couldn't just remount the headlamps to them. From the look of it, it seems to actually be part of the grill, the whole thing needing to be replaced.

- The parking/side marker light lens is missing, and the housing itself may be trash too.

- The front bumper. Can't tell from the B&W film whether it's just paint from Lumpy's car or just scratches. Even if just scratches, no way to repair. Ergo, new bumper.

They may try to get it repaired on the cheap to get the car functional again, but as to restoring to the as-new condition, that would take more money than Wally and his deadbeat friends could ever scrape together...and it would take longer. Too long before his parents returned.

That would be a 2500 dollar job today, and maybe that's low. No doubt it would be be less in 1962, other than the obvious inflation factor. The car repair culture was different than today's where some places pad out the estimate knowing it's an insurance job, where insurance tends to total out a car with much much less damage than in the past.

In short, Wally was screwed the moment Lumpy was too ignorant to know you don't let out the clutch to jump start a car till you are rolling free.


Eighteen Dollars lol

and by 3 pm the same day

the things they "pull" on tv lol

That's a lot of damage. Al should have looked at it and said, kid are you nuts? By 3 today? You'll be lucky to have it by 3 a week from today.

Kind of off the subject, a few weeks ago Bud on Father Knows Best got a used 50s car for a graduation present. At the end of the episode he did a forward roll on the hood. Car was fine, but I had to think what would happen to a current car with that move. End of hood!

Thanks for that screenshot capture CC. Makes it easier to visualize.

Thanks for that screenshot capture CC. Makes it easier to visualize.

Thats me taking a picture of my 55" tv with my phone lol