It’s true that these were known as “Doctors’ Cars” back before imported cars owned the market. However, they were known to be popular with other areas of the medical profession, as well.

Back in ‘64 Rex Hall, the pharmacist here in Fort Stockton went down to Pecos Buick/GMC/International Harvester and ordered a new Wildcat convertible just like this one. His drugstore, Rex Hall’s Rexall was doing quite well and he felt it was time to reward himself. (This was long before the Piggy Wiggly added a pharmacy, so he still had the market for medicine to himself.)

Dang it was a beauty. The ‘Newspaper Appearance Package’ was stunning. (Black and White and Red all over.). The Four-on-the-Floor was the sugar that made the bitter pill of those $129 monthly payments easier to swallow.

One morning Joe Bob Birdwell came flying into the parking lot of the pharmacy and slammed on the brakes of his Bonneville, screeching to a stop right next to Rex’s black Buick. It seems that Joe Bob’s wife, Joleen had tearfully told her husband that she had been horribly insulted by Rex over the phone and Joe Bob was coming for his pound of flesh.

Before Joe Bob could even get a word or two out, Rex told him to calm dow and listen to his side of the story.

“The alarm didn’t go off this morning, so I didn’t get up on time. I skipped breakfast and walked out to the Wildcat and realized as I was about to get in that I had locked the front door behind me, leaving the keys to both the house and the car inside.

I had to break a window to get back inside and retrieve the keys. Trying to make up for lost time, I was speeding to the store when Earl pulled me over and gave me a ticket. Three blocks later, the Buick has a blowout. I finally get here and there is a line of people waiting to come in and I hear the phone ringing off the wall inside. Didn’t even have time to put the top up on the convertible, and you know how hot that red interior gets in the sun.”

“He went on, “Then, ringing up the very first sale, I had to bust a roll of quarters against the side of the cash register in order to make change. They fall to the ground and roll all over the floor, some underneath the counter. I’m on my hands and knees trying to find all of them and the phone rings again. I stand up to answer it, and bang my head on the drawer of the register that was still open.

I finally get to the phone, pick it up, and it’s your wife. She wants to know how to use a rectal thermometer. God as my witness, Joe Bob, ALL I DID WAS TELL HER!”