OPPO PSA: Real car guys find time for repairs, even at work

"SBA Thanks You For All The Fish" (santabarbarianlsx)
12/17/2019 at 14:19 • Filed to: None

Since the release of Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood awhile back, which had many references to cross-over TV Western stars getting into movies, I’ve been browsing old B&W photos from the era. Steve McQueen was starring in Wanted— Dead or Alive at the same time OUATIH’s fictional Rick Dalton was tearing it up in primetime with Bounty Law , while also dealing with some hassles of living in LA, including property problems, coping with DUI aftermath and seeing the hippies Rick despised everywhere.

Anyway, I was tickled to run across this image of Steve McQueen, between takes, trying get his (now) unobtanium Jaguar XK (SS?) running— while costumed in his Wanted— Dead or Alive boots, rifle holster and spurs.

One pictures him needing to race off the lot after the final take to have drinks with some starlet at the Beverly Hills Hotel, perhaps with some more under-the-hood action to follow? At least you could be a rich, philandering, dynamic movie star and still have to vanquish the ghosts- of-Lucas while the boss isn’t looking. Makes me warm and fuzzy about the hobby.

DISCUSSION (11)

Thomas Donohue > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
12/17/2019 at 15:16

Watched that movie the other night. I knew about the backstory, but damn I didn’t think it would be that much in the forefront. Then I remembered I was watching a Q. Tarantino movie.....

Overall pretty good, but I was expecting something a little different. Again, my fault for forgetting that it was a Q.T. movie.

Loved some of the cars, especially the 911, which I believe was a ‘66 in real life.

Kinja'd!!!

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Thomas Donohue
12/17/2019 at 15:31

Yeah, I’ve never been much of a QT fan (in fairness, only met him in person once— but he seemed kind of arrogant about his “art” in what were basically stylized “slasher” movies to that point.) but I actually enjoyed Once Upon a Time.

And, yeah, that 911 was awesome. Even Cliff’s (Brad Pitt) Karmann Ghia was an interesting casting choice.

Of course, my line about that movie is basically “I could watch Brad Pitt driving around vintage LA landscapes, shot with beautiful style, for two hours anytime... picking out SoCal landmarks from back in the day through a classic car’s side window.”

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
12/17/2019 at 15:46

TIL I'm not a real car guy because I've been putting off repairs on my own cars for many months

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
12/17/2019 at 16:05

I figure McQueen had probably put off taking that car to his Jag specialist for weeks, so put himself in a spot by needing to mess with it himself when he needed to go somewhere. I’m just taken with the photo because it’s clearly on the studio lot and he’s clearly in costume.

Anyway, my take is that we all procrastinate on needed repairs until we’ve got a “situation” doing repairs in a time and place you hadn’t intended. So, you’re good!

Long_Voyager94 > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
12/17/2019 at 16:10

I installed the headlights in the new van at work.

I also installed an intake at work.

Did both on my lunch break.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Long_Voyager94
12/17/2019 at 16:17

Sigh. Yeah.

I’ve done a n AUDI D2 brake job in long term parking at O’Hare... and replaced an FJ80 fuel pump on the rooftop parking garage at Parking Spot LAX.

Neither were the result of “proper planning and timely maintenance...”

Khalbali > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
12/17/2019 at 18:08

This is why I always laugh when I see "mechanic owned!" In a Craigslist ad, I was only a tech for a couple years but I know what that means, I'm the same way. "Mechanic owned" means I know everything that's wrong and how long I can ignore it.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
12/17/2019 at 19:20

It’s a cool photo for sure!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Khalbali
12/17/2019 at 19:23

Yup. Or they know how to hide issues from potential buyers. To be fair, as far as my own cars are concerned, I barely drive them because I'm always on one of my bikes instead. And the things that need repair/maintenance aren't going to cause any damage or leave me stranded.

Urambo Tauro > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
12/17/2019 at 19:27

Funny that you posted this today, I just changed my truck’s washer pump at work on my lunch break.

RallyWrench > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
12/18/2019 at 01:20

Professional wrenches get a pass ;)