Prelude from Ralph LaFevor, an individual who repaired cars as a sideline in his garage at home. Harpeth Toyota's used car manager inspected the car while it was being repaired, and Mr. LaFevor informed him that the car's roof, trunk lid, and rear windshield had been damaged by a falling tree limb.[1]
Harpeth Toyota sold the car "as is" to Jesse McHone on February 6, 1987. Mr. McHone did not inquire into the background of the car, and Harpeth Toyota did not volunteer any information about it. Mr. McHone financed the car through Credithrift of America, Inc.
The car was involved in another accident on March 9, 1987. Mr. McHone paid more than $5,200 to repair the car and later pled guilty to a DUI charge stemming from the accident.As a result of his conviction, Mr. McHone lost his driver's license and his job. Since he could no longer drive or afford the monthly car payments and increased insurance premiums, Mr. McHone parked the car in a church lot on Gallatin Road and placed a sign in the front windshield offering to sell the car to anyone who would agree to assume his monthly payments.
Beverly Patton saw the car parked in the church parking lot. She contacted Mr. McHone and became interested in buying the car after driving it. Mr. McHone told *612 her that the car was "the best car he had ever owned" and that he had not had any problems with it. He did not, however, tell Mrs. Patton that the car had been