Breaking Bad star lost beloved classic 1969 car after taking it into mechanics – single phone call confirmed his fears
A SILVER screen star allegedly ran into a mechanic scam after receiving a classic 1969 muscle car.
Aaron Paul, 45, the Breaking Bad and Need For Speed star, said he brought his 1969 Ford to the mechanic shop years ago and never got in it again.
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Paul spoke about his mechanic nightmare in an August interview with Car and Driver.
Back in 2014, Paul starred in the Need for Speed movie – a fast-paced film featuring classic cars.
His character drove a custom blue Ford Torino sports car in the movie.
After production, DreamWorks, the production studio behind the movie, gifted the car to the actor.
He kept it as a cherished part of his garage for years. That is until he brought it to the mechanic in 2021.
“It’s been my baby, and I love it,” he told the publication.
But three years ago, he claimed the car went to a shop for a minor fix.
Paul said the mechanic kept asking him if he wanted to make other upgrades to the vehicle.
For a few months, Paul continually agreed to the vehicle improvements.
But eventually, he grew wary of the technician he thought was fixing his car.
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Paul spent thousands of dollars on supposed vehicle fixes. Then, he said he cut off the funds to the mechanic.
Paul drove to the shop to retrieve his car one day but couldn’t find it.
The shop recently changed owners. Paul said the former mechanic who allegedly scammed him out of money is nowhere to be found.
The new owner called Paul to give him the bad news – that his car was likely gone forever.
“They still don’t know where he is,” he told the site.
“And not only did he not do any of the work on the car, but he left it outside uncovered for three years, and the paint and chrome are ruined, and it’s all messed up and rusted. He was a full-on con artist.”
How to avoid being scammed at the repair shop
Motorautocar and the AARP have east-to-follow tips to avoid being scammed by a repair shop.
- Motorautocar suggests asking to see parts that have been replaced or to see old fluids after they were swapped. If the shop says that’s impossible or refuses, it could be a sign it wasn’t done.
- Ask for a walkaround of the repairs that were done. Most mechanics are happy to show you what was done in the shop. While being walked around, look for evidence of repairs like the area being cleaned off, shiny new parts, tool marks on the bolts, tools being out or nearby, etc.
- Before taking your car in, look at other customer reviews on Google, Yelp, or Facebook. Many customers only review a company if they have negative reviews, so keep an eye out.
- For costly repairs, consider getting multiple opinions. If two to three shops suggest identical repairs, it’s likely to be true.
- Test a new shop with minor issues you’re aware of to see if they add anything to the repair bill.
- If applicable, bring someone to the shop who knows about cars to have them double-check or read a repair bill.
- Get everything on paper. Not only is it important for your repair records, but it can help protect you if legal measures are necessary.
Source: Motorautocar, AARP
Paul has moved on to other vehicle projects, according to the site.
He drives an electric Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV on some days.
A 1965 Shelby Cobra is another daily driver for the movie star.
Paul also said he tools around with a 1971 Mercedes 300SEL 6.3.
The 1971 Mercedes is a perfectly revitalized version of the V8 luxury vehicle.
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