Check the tires — and teeth

Americans long ago traded horses for cars as our primary means of transportation. Well, maybe not all that long ago for a woman in Pinellas Park, Fla.

According to Tampa's WTSP-TV, that woman recently purchased a used van from the Park Auto Mall Preowned Car and Truck Superstore without having to spend any money or use any vehicle as a trade-in. Her down payment: a horse.

Hey, that's one way to get a van -- and to get a van off the lot.

And there's one more word -- "gallops" -- for Park Auto Mall to add to its pitch that "whether it rolls, floats or flies we will take it on trade."

Among the other items that Park has taken in down payment -- a mobile home, art, jewelry, autographed baseballs and an airplane.

So don't assume that car trading and horse trading are mutually exclusive.

And regardless of the economic times, don't underestimate how much the zeal for a deal can still accomplish.