THE episode all us kids back in the day just loved, and still do. A textbook defintion of Creative Writing 101, and thanks to James Fritzell, who in a few years would create the DORIS DAY SHOW, later to write for MASH.
With those credentials, you know this is classic stuff.
It's time for Barney to get a car, and lucky him -- he meets nice, little old lady Myrt (played to the hilt by Ellen Corby). Long before the WALTONS, Corby was a master of motherly and grandmother roles, some with a touch of larceny. She is spot on here, telling Barney a bunch of baloney how the car belonged to her late husband, and she has no choice but to sell it.
CLASSIC TV scene hands down; Barney gives Andy and the gang a ride in the jalopy and everything goes wrong, including the hilarious part where the steering column unwinds in his face like a snake! See to believe.
No surprise Myrt is a car thief, sort of a "Ma Barker" type, running a gang of car thieves, assisted by popular character actor Allan Melvin, who also played some bad apples in his long career. In yet another prime scene, Andy and Barney hide out in Myrt's garage and catch the gang red-handed. Very well directed, and with a cop show ending.
10 stars for the the wild dialogue, especially Ellen Corby's part. Myrt tries to sell Barney another car when he's arresting her. Outrageous.
From SEASON 3 EPISODE 27 remastered dvd box set. Two sets; released 2005 and 2013, both with 5 dvds.