In the early 80s I'd drank my way out of college, and was working at the hospital as a gopher. I bought a Mercedes Benz(what better way to show how well I was doing to the world) 190b. 1961, one month younger than me with 300k already on the clock.
Checked the car out at night with my buddy and said,"I'll take it". The guy told me to tighten the nuts under the back seat once a month,"Ok". They were connected to all-thread, the other end held 1/4 plate with the rear trailing arm mount that should have been mounted to the frame, but the frame wasn't there.
When the bolts weren't tight I could run down a road either accelerating and turning right, or cutting the throttle and turning left, without touching the steering wheel. It was fun when everyone in the car was high and only the guy in the front passenger seat knew what was going on.
On the way to visit my girlfriend in Saratoga Springs New York, at close to midnight rain pouring down, I down shifted from fourth to third on the column shift, aiming for the exit. Let out the clutch, sounded like fourth? Let go of the shifter, and it fell into fourth gear position. ?? Put in the clutch shifted back to third, let go of clutch, let go of shifter. Still fourth!
Realized I had gotten off at the wrong exit, paid the toll, tried for 1st gear. Still 4th. Rode the clutch, banged a Uee back onto the highway.
Got off on the right exit, still in forth, drove all the way through town, up hills, coasting through stop signs and such. Made it to her dorm, and fell into bed.
Next morning had the car jacked up by eight, crawled under and found the shifter linkage dangling next to the tranny. Stuck it back on, tightened it up, and my one speed transmission went back to being a four speed on the colon again.
All was right with the world. Had steak and eggs for breakfast! What a great car. Didn't remember until my dad told me a few years ago, that his mother had a '58 180 Pontoon. Cowinkadink?