Inheriting a car…
Fred: It was the old man’s. He was 99 and still driving until a month before he died.
Max: Well, some panels are a bit squew-whiff, but I’ve seen worse. At least it’s all still attached.
Fred: I’m not fussy. Just want the panels pulled straight, hammer out the worst of the crumples, and splash on some paint.
Max: Fair enough. If I sort out that structural ding on the undersill it should pass a warrant. You want factory paint or close enough that it looks the same in dim lighting?
Fred: Second option.
Max: Ha! All right. I’ll blend it as best I can.
Fred: Uh huh. How long do you reckon this’ll take?
Max: Maybe three days. There’s that Hilux ahead of you.
Fred: OK. And the damage to my wallet?
Max: Call it $550 for the panel beating and another $150 for paint and finishing. Eight all up. Cash.
Fred: Righto. That’s cheaper than counselling to deal with losing the car entirely.
_________
Voice-over
Paddock mechanics generate stories of rural sheds, field workshops, and DIY mechanical wizardry in folklore, books, and oral history downunder. A few days after I picked it up, I gave it a service and have been using for the past five years. Who needs a new one when it’ll be dinged up in the supermarket parking lot?
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