Dad’s 1942 Pontiac

I almost let Dad’s April 17 birthday slip by. While poking around, I found where he had bought a 1942 Pontiac for $1,328.86.

What was particularly interesting to me was that he had to get permission from the rationing board to buy the vehicle. (World War II, remember?)

Because of his job, he had better access to gas, tires, etc., than most folks at the time. Mother’s parents ran a restaurant in Advance, so they, likewise, had access to sugar, meat and other rationed items that were sometimes in short supply. 

$258.55 for parts and labor

This was filed with the original purchase. I don’t know if this work was done as a condition of sale or if it was done later.

Dad was exempt from the draft

He spent the war years working for Markham & Brown building airfields and other war-related construction projects.

Mother went with him, which caused one memorable event.

A truck driver thought it would be funny to scare this strange woman by driving head-long toward her, not realizing that the woman was the boss’s wife.

Mother was not amused, nor was Dad. His “fun” cost him his job – and maybe his draft deferment.

When she was in the Lutheran Home, she regaled her grandkids with stories of all kinds of shenanigans, including the time when she swiped a dump truck because she wanted to go into town.

Hills Plant – Vichy

It took lots of materials to build airfields and the like. One of Dad’s jobs was to keep the rock flowing from quarries like this one in Vichy, Mo.

I may have to drive around to see if any of his construction projects are still around.