Vern's Volvo

Vern's car is the car that he has been driving around for twenty years and not the pile of parts ...

As Vern went to Grace's Garage he exchanged various parts of his car for new ones. He exchanged them since the old parts were wanted anymore, he instead wanted new parts. After he rejected the old parts they were no longer his since he didn't want them anymore. These new parts, however, he wanted and used for twenty years. The old parts are no different than garbage which he drags to the curb twice a week. Vern gave up those parts, and with the new parts which Vern acquired he was able to fulfill his vehicular needs for twenty strong years.

Not only did he Vern abandon the old parts, but also, Grace gave them shelter and a home. Grace, not Vern is the owner of the pile of parts. By action of taking them in and housing them for the past twenty years, her service has overridden and original ownership which Vern might have had on the car parts. Since Grace is the owner of the pile of parts, Vern cannot claim ownership to them, even if he would want to.

The pile of old car parts which Grace has been keeping is not Vern's car because the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Granted those parts in the dusty backroom could make a car, but they aren't one. Saying that the pile of car parts is a car is like saying a couple of bricks is a wall or some flour and water is bread. Vern's car is the one that is well, actually a car and not a pile of parts. The pile of parts can't drive Vern around, and therefore do not match the definition of a car.

Out with the old and in with the new ...