Whilst doing a major service and brake job on his aging, but in very nice shape, Hyundai Stellar (based on the even older 1970-76 Ford Cortina) I soon spotted the "Witness Marks".
Not a group of easily tricked or manipulated folk waiting to give evidence, but Marks in the form of tiny white Tipex dots on every tire valve cap, contact breaker, spark plugs and filters: everything to do with servicing it had a barely visible spot of it.
He obviously didn't trust me, so I fitted new oil/fuel/air/PCV filters, new plugs, points, fresh fluids (including gearbox and rear axle) and even greased the only greasing point on the vehicle.
I then paid out of my own pocket for the entire car valeting. Not just any old car cleaner, this guy once worked for Ford UK and travelled Europe to clean newly introduced models for them at every motorshow.
Under the hood was detailed and even under the vehicle was jet washed and shining brand new. Beautiful.
Replicating every Tipex mark, I parked the Hyundai outside his house, and posted the key. I wanted him to think I'd just washed the car off and not done any of the work.
He would then see the box in the trunk holding all his old parts. There were a Lot.
That evening we attended Hyundai guy's silver wedding anniversary function.
I felt really sorry for the couple (Did I mention they were the relatives of my ex-partner?) as the catering company had charged them a fortune. The food was all of the 25 cents for a huge bottle of lemonade variety and in the early nineties, cheap unbranded supermarket stuff was utter junk.
I then felt sorry for myself...
"We're so glad you could both make it and are really happy about how clean you left my car and how well it now runs and drives."
"It's like Brand New"
He continued, "And I hope you didn't think I'd put the paint marks on everything. It was the previous owner. She never trusted any tradespeople."
So I ran from the venue and back to the Hyundai. Easily breaking into the car, I removed the note I'd left him. It was about how disappointing it was to see all of the Tipex and didnt he trust me?
But in not very polite language. And then ran the two miles back to the party, shredding the letter on the way...
Not a group of easily tricked or manipulated folk waiting to give evidence, but Marks in the form of tiny white Tipex dots on every tire valve cap, contact breaker, spark plugs and filters: everything to do with servicing it had a barely visible spot of it.
He obviously didn't trust me, so I fitted new oil/fuel/air/PCV filters, new plugs, points, fresh fluids (including gearbox and rear axle) and even greased the only greasing point on the vehicle.
I then paid out of my own pocket for the entire car valeting. Not just any old car cleaner, this guy once worked for Ford UK and travelled Europe to clean newly introduced models for them at every motorshow.
Under the hood was detailed and even under the vehicle was jet washed and shining brand new. Beautiful.
Replicating every Tipex mark, I parked the Hyundai outside his house, and posted the key. I wanted him to think I'd just washed the car off and not done any of the work.
He would then see the box in the trunk holding all his old parts. There were a Lot.
That evening we attended Hyundai guy's silver wedding anniversary function.
I felt really sorry for the couple (Did I mention they were the relatives of my ex-partner?) as the catering company had charged them a fortune. The food was all of the 25 cents for a huge bottle of lemonade variety and in the early nineties, cheap unbranded supermarket stuff was utter junk.
I then felt sorry for myself...
"We're so glad you could both make it and are really happy about how clean you left my car and how well it now runs and drives."
"It's like Brand New"
He continued, "And I hope you didn't think I'd put the paint marks on everything. It was the previous owner. She never trusted any tradespeople."
So I ran from the venue and back to the Hyundai. Easily breaking into the car, I removed the note I'd left him. It was about how disappointing it was to see all of the Tipex and didnt he trust me?
But in not very polite language. And then ran the two miles back to the party, shredding the letter on the way...
