Definition of shadetree mechanic

• a hobbyist mechanic who works on their own vehicles, often in their driveway. (Perhaps underneath a tree providing shade.)

                                                                                                                                                             
  
  Citation from "No shade needed", McCook Daily Gazette, January 18 2010 censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site.

  Last edited on Feb 04 2010. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA on Feb 04 2010.

• a hobbyist mechanic who works on their own vehicles, often in their driveway, and often causing more harm than they repair.

  Last edited on Feb 04 2010. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA on Feb 04 2010.

• the title of a 1990s television series on TNN.

  Last edited on Feb 04 2010. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA on Feb 04 2010.

expression

• Shadetree Mechanic: Walter was correct but I would like to embellish. Shadetree mechanic was a term most used until the mid 70s. Before the days when men were consumed by video games and before electronic gadgets took up residence under the hood of our car. In those days, most men owened a set of wrenches along with other toolbox goodies and would gladly spend an afternoon with a buddy doing a tuneup in the driveway, under the shade of the nearest tree. Required tools and parts were as follows: sockets with spark plug socket, timing light, open or box ends, screwdriver and maybe a hex key, gap, oil filter wrench, (hammer), new plugs, points, wires, fuel filter, oil filter, condenser, air filter and a six pack of beer. By the time the beer is gone, the tuneup should be complete. Of course, several other task could be completed on the vehicle by men of this day, but tuneups were the most fun. Shadetree is a lost term today because it doesn't turn up in video games where things get blown up.

  Last edited on May 12 2018. Submitted by Anonymous on May 12 2018.