Here at CWS 4×4 we’re experts in 4×4 salvage, parts and spares – but even we have to tip our hat to ‘Super’ Mario Papademetriou.
An AA patrolman by day, he’s proved himself to be something of an unconventional whizz when it comes to fixing up a vintage Land Rover. Having been called out to a Hertfordshire farm to help a customer fix the condenser on his 1960 Landy, he was stumped by the problem he faced. He tried tin foil; he tried silicone repair tape. No go.
But with a little ingenuity, and working with what he had to hand, Papademetriou improvised possibly the best solution ever. And what did he use? A home-grown spud, of course. It might sound like a familiar plan – using potatoes to generate electricity is a classic project in science lessons at school.
Speaking about the incident afterwards, ‘Super’ Mario said: ‘As the vehicle was on the farm, there were a lot of vegetables around, so I thought I’d try wiring up a potato with a couple of screws to act as a condenser. Amazingly, it started instantly, so I followed the owner to the garage and he said the vehicle had never driven so well! You have to improvise all the time. I knew that a potato can be used to generate electricity and I saw it and thought I’d give it a go, but I didn’t expect it to work.’
It’s not the only time Papademetriou, who’s an AA veteran, having worked for them for 30 years, has used alternative methods. In the past, he’s admitted to knocking up a makeshift fan belt using ladies stockings, and a raw egg to prevent a radiator from leaking.
And while the owner of the Land Rover was able to then drive his vehicle to a garage to get it properly fixed, Papademetriou was rewarded by his employer. In addition to a £50 gift voucher, he is now the proud owner of the most original and inventive roadside repair award. Well played, sir!
If you’ve got a 4×4 or Land Rover that needs a little bit of TLC without resorting to vegetables, then we can help. For more information about our services, simply contact us on 01458 834 930 and our experienced team will be delighted to assist in anyway way we can.