I think it's fair to say that most technicians are vehicle fanatics. Technicians love vehicles and equipment, their components parts and accessories and all the nuts, bolts and pieces that go with them.
Many are always on the lookout for a project vehicle or a particular type or class of vehicle.
I missed an opportunity to own one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century: James Bond's actual Aston Martin DB5 as driven by Sean Connery in the Goldfinger and Thunderball movies.
Wouldn't that be a sweet ride to have?
The car was auctioned by RM Auctions, the world's largest auction house for quality automobiles, in association with global auction company Sotheby's. The 007 James Bond car was included in RM Auctions' annual Automobiles of London event, held recently in London, England.
This specially outfitted silver Aston Martin is one of only two, and the sole remaining, of the original 007 DB5s featured on screen with Sean Connery as James Bond.
The car is factory-fitted with the full complement of operational Q-Branch gadgets, including machine guns, rear bulletproof shield, ejector seat, revolving number plates, tracking device, oil slick sprayer, nail spreader and smoke screen, all controlled from factory-installed toggles and switches hidden in the center armrest.
For those of you who don't know, Q-Branch was depicted in the James Bond movies as the research and development division of the British Secret Service.
The Aston Martin DB5 was originally loaned to EON Productions for the filming of the two Bond movies, then returned to the Aston Martin Lagonda factory after its subsequent promotional tour.
Philadelphia, PA-based radio broadcaster Jerry Lee convinced the factory to sell him the car for $12,000 in 1969, thereby becoming its first and only ex-factory owner. It has remained in his possession and has rarely been seen publicly since.
I lost my bid for 007 James Bond silver Aston Martin by an extremely large margin. It sold for $4.1 million - way, way, way out of my price range.
Besides, that special vehicle that I'm searching for is a good, used and affordable (on a truck trade magazine editor's meager earnings) Kenworth cabover tractor. (Know of any?)