Luck can be found about seven miles west of Tinker Air Force Base.
Since Dec. 2017, Adam Ely, and his wife, Toni, of Choctaw, have operated Hard Luck Automotive Services, located at 616 SW 29th St. in Oklahoma City, with the premise, “if you can afford the parts, we’ll fix your car for free.” Toni currently works as a civilian in the B-1 and B-52 Bomber Division at Tinker AFB.
“It all started by accident,” Adam said. “One of my daughter’s coworkers was having some car problems. We gave them a tune-up right in the front yard. After it was all said and done, I turned to [Toni] and said there’s really a need for people who cannot just go have their car diagnosed, much less repaired.”
What started out as simply providing diagnosis, Adam said turned into something much more. He said the services are open to anyone.
“I’ve never turned anyone down, and I never will,” Adam said. It’s clear from talking with Adam that a lot of the willingness to help out and give back to others’ is rooted in the values instilled in him growing up and through his own military service.
Rod Lees, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, who currently works as a B-1 program manager in the same building as Toni, said he was having some engine troubles, so Toni told him to call Adam.
“He was very responsive,” Lees said.
Lees said even though he didn’t need anything done on his vehicle that day, he’s confident if he ever needs to, that Adam will take care of him.
“Adam’s always willing to help veterans in particular. He came over to my house, looked at it, and later determined it wasn’t a pressing issue.”
However, if you send Adam a message today, he said he won’t likely be able to get to your car until mid-July.
Donations and support have poured in over the years to support the amazing things they are doing. Most recently, BBC and local news channels have recognized them for their charity work. They got the surprise of their lives on April 18 when a documentary turned out to be Mike Rowe, host of Returning the Favor on Facebook Watch, and former host of the T.V. series, “Dirty Jobs.” Rowe gifted Adam and Toni a two-bay workshop off 29th Street, with all expenses paid for two years and $14,000 in automotive tools and supplies.
“It was just a normal Thursday: having a celebrity in my home, drinking a cup of coffee in my kitchen and gifting me about $75,000,” Adam said. “It has been life-changing. To see what this has manifested into is just incredible. We are chomping at the bit to see our episode.”
The Ely’s episode will air Monday. To find out more of the great things Adam and Toni are doing, visit facebook.com/hardluckauto405. They are hosting a grand opening at the new shop from 4 to 10 p.m. July 13.