The story begins on a beautiful May day with Mr. Dowser stepping out on his back porch, feeling content and peaceful as he admires his garden. However, this tranquility is interrupted by a grating noise coming from the alley. The noise ceases, and Mr. Jimson, a local swindler, enters Mr. Dowser's yard, greeting him cheerfully. Mr. Dowser responds coldly, but Mr. Jimson engages him in small talk about the fine weather and the virtues of having a car.

Sensing Mr. Dowser's suspicion, Mr. Jimson shifts the conversation to praise Mr. Dowser's garden, knowing it is a subject that pleases him. With Mr. Dowser visibly thawing, Mr. Jimson subtly introduces the idea of buying a car to avoid the heat and dust of summer. Before Mr. Dowser can react, Mr. Jimson drags him into the alley to show him a beat-up Ford of a 1916 model.

The car is in terrible condition, with bent and rusty fenders, a cracked windshield, no top, a missing radiator cap, a torn hood, and decayed tires. Mr. Jimson, however, praises the car's engine and claims it is worth much more than the $300 he is asking. Despite his initial skepticism, Mr. Dowser, knowing little about cars, begins to feel uneasy about potentially missing a good deal.

Mr. Jimson offers to let Mr. Dowser inspect the car, promising $5 if he finds any faults. Mr. Dowser, clueless about car mechanics, agrees to buy the car for $225 after some haggling. Once the deal is sealed, Mr. Jimson offers to teach Mr. Dowser how to drive. After several failed attempts to start the engine, which includes nearly breaking Mr. Dowser's arm with the crank, the car finally roars to life.

As they drive, the car's engine knocks loudly, which Mr. Jimson dismisses as loose connecting rods. The car suddenly swerves and crashes into Mr. Dowser's fence, scaring a cow and causing mayhem in the yard. The car continues its destructive path, knocking over the cow and a pig before attempting to climb a tree and finally overturning.

Bruised and furious, Mr. Dowser emerges from the wreckage, looking for Mr. Jimson, who blames loose radius rods for the accident. Mr. Dowser demands his check back, but Mr. Jimson quickly escapes over the fence.