Bob Shemeligian: Little car, big dispute and long, hot summer days

Thursday, July 25, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

"THIRTY DAYS in the hole," the chorus of the early '70s Humble Pie song droned on and on a generation ago.

Steve Schrader, a 40-year-old Las Vegas construction worker, remembers that song.

He's even added a new chorus.

It goes like this: "Thirty-eight days on the lift. When am I going to see my car again?"

It was on the afternoon of June 17 that Schrader took his 1987 gray-and-red Dodge Charger Shelby to a service station in northwest Las Vegas for a new clutch.

That was 38 days ago.

"I told the guys at the shop to take their time and to do a good job," Schrader said. "I guess I shouldn't have said that."

A week went by, and then another. And another.

Finally, Schrader called the SUN.

"It's just a hassle," he said. "We have one other car. I use it to drive (his wife) to work, and when my kid works late, I pick him up at the supermarket 'cause I don't want him walking at night."

At other times, when one member of the family has the car and another needs transportation, Schrader has sprung for cab fare. The cab bills are approaching $200.

John, the owner of the garage, explained that his mechanics have been trying to fix the Shelby, but it hasn't been easy.

The car, John says, has design flaws that make it all but impossible to repair.

The little Shelby, with a powerful 2.2-liter, turbo-charged engine, is a work of art when it's running right.

But when it's not, it's just work.

"They tried to make a race car out of street car, and it's a real booger to repair," John said. "It's not like two guys can fit the clutch in. There's no room to work in there."

To make matters worse, John's mechanics have found other problems, ranging from a leaky water pump to bad shocks. Schrader has approved the repairs, which will take more time and cost more money.

In any event, the car has remained on the lift inside one of the service-station bays for the better part of the summer.

And as the summer gets hotter, car owner and station owner get more frustrated.

"I'd like to get my damn car back before the tags expire," Schrader said.

"Believe me, I don't need this right now," the station owner said. "I'm involved in a border dispute with the car wash next door, and I'm into it $13,000 in legal fees so far. My attorney called me recently to tell me a court date had been changed, and I was billed $46 for the call. I feel like I'm in a whorehouse and the ticker's going."

Because John's station is AAA-approved and has had only one complaint registered against it with the state Consumer Affairs Division (it was subsequently resolved), I've decided not to name the station, so as not to unfairly wield the awesome power of the press.

If you want to know, it's easy enough to find out.

Just check area stations and look for a gray-and-red Shelby with cobwebs on the wheels atop one of the lifts.