are there places where you can rent a mechanic bay by the hour?

[phantom power]

I've heard of places where you can rent time in a woodshop to do projects with big shop equipment you don't own. It just occurred to me you could do the same thing with a car repair shop. Rent out time on a bay with a lift, to do work on your car.

[Ptah]

1. Many many years ago, there was such a shop in Ann Arbor.

I rented several hours and did an engine replacement on a 1968 Chevy pick-up.
It was some kind of a co-op, I think.

[phantom power]

2. of course it would be Ann Arbor

[Ptah]

7. I miss Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti

[cbayer]

3. The Car Talk guys had a place in Cambridge back in the 70's.

It was great. You could take your car in, use the equipment and get invaluable advice and assistance from their mechanics.

But.... I think, but am not sure, that there were problems with liability.

[mopinko]

6. they closed it because they got sucked into doing too many of the repairs.

i will miss them, but they have earned their retirement.

[MineralMan]

4. I'd love that, too.

I think insurance is the problem with such places, or there would be lots of them. I hate lying on the driveway under a car.

[Starboard Tack]

5. Great idea. If there aren't, there should be.

Not a bad idea for a business. I also like the co-op idea. Hire a qualified mechanic to supervise and DIY.