Episode Two -The Lemon

Richie pulls up in the carpark of Arnold’s driving his family car. A series of comments directed his way make him aware the vehicle he is behind the wheel of is considered ‘uncool’. When Ralph Malph arrives a few moments later in a flash red convertible, and drives away soon after with Betty and Trudy, Richie gets the message that a new set of wheels is something he must have.
(Episode Two -The Lemon)

Potsie and Richie pool their funds together – $175 in total – to buy a second hand car. Word quickly spreads that the pair now have their own car. Betty and Trudy call the Cunningham house and leave a message asking Richie to meet them at Arnolds.

Saturday night at 7:30pm…

Richie and Potsie arrive at Arnolds in their new car and receive a lot of compliments. However it is not long before mechanical problems strike. The boys ask Fonzie to fix the car. He does but for payment asks to keep the car’s shiny silver hood ornament (‘the best part of the car’).

Potsie and Richie go on a date with Betty and Trudy – “up at the lake to watch the submarine races” – in the newly fixed car. A series of things again go wrong ending with the car rolling into the lake with the girls in it after Richie leaves the handbrake off.

Howard turns up to take everyone home and delivers some wise words to Richie along the way. Richie and Potsie end up selling the sodden car to Fonzie for $25 for scrap metal.

Wouldn’t say I’m the sort of person who takes a great interest in car makes and models, but for those who do, the 2nd-hand car Richie and Potsie buy with their $175 is a 1950 Chevrolet Styleline De Luxe Convertible.

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4 thoughts on “Episode Two -The Lemon”

I don’t remember ever seeing Fonzie without his leather jacket. Maybe that came later in the series? I always thought it was “Ralph Mouth” as a nickname, so you taught me something. I learned to drive on an old station wagon, so I can relate to uncool cars!

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The grey windbreaker was indeed Fonzie’s early look until a ‘cool’ upgrade came with the black leather jacket halfway through Season 1.And a station wagon is probably still several notches above a ‘boxy’ 80’s-era Volvo on the cool spectrum, at least in my book.

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Wow, come to think of it, I don’t remember that windbreaker either! How funny. There was no upgrade in my mind. He just ALWAYS had the leather jacket, lol. Well, hubby had a great car story like this one–except he, in the end, was the victor. He, too, saved his nickels and got a used car when he was in his late teens, I think. His father came out and snickered at the “hunk of junk” and was generally contemptuous. Many months later after hubby had repaired and fixed the car all up, guess who came begging for a ride because his OWN crappy car had broken down? That’s right. Dad! Had to eat a big mouthful of crow, lol. If Richie actually LOVED cars as much as hubby, he would have figured out how to fix his used car too. Silly boy!

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