Every month, Counterman’s “Guess the Car” contest challenges our readers to solve an automotive riddle, for a chance to win $100. And each month, we receive hundreds of responses from aftermarket professionals trying to guess the model of the vehicle depicted.
The correct answer for the June contest is the Jeep Gladiator. The winner for June is Don Maloney, director of wholesale parts at Long-Lewis Automotive Group in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Now, let’s get to know the June “Guess the Car” champion.
CM: How long have you been working in the auto parts business?
DM: Ten years.
CM: What do you like most about your job?
DM: I get to meet people. That is absolutely the best.
CM: Are you a “people person”?
DM: I am. I do the outside sales calls for the company and I love it. I get to work with the local repair shops, help them find parts and make sure we’re giving them good service.
CM: What’s the strangest question a customer has asked you?
DM: A guy asked me to turn the rotors on his truck. I said, “OK, no problem. Do you have them available? I can help you carry them in.” He said, “No, I can drive the truck around.” I said, “Well that’s fine if you want to, but we can carry them in.” He said, “Well don’t you have to take them off first?” He thought we would pull the rotors off his truck.
CM: What’s the coolest car you’ve ever owned or worked on?
DM: I would have to say my very first car, which was a ’65 and a half Mustang Fastback. It had a 289 HiPo with a C2 transmission.
CM: Sounds like you remember it like it was yesterday.
DM: I’m kicking myself all the way down the street for not keeping it. But I was a dumb high school kid.
CM: Do you have any interesting hobbies? What do you do for fun?
DM: I would say my favorite hobby now is working on German cars.
CM: What’s your dream car?
DM: Every day I look for what that dream car is. Right now I would have to say I’m kind of having the itch for a 2006 Mercedes CL65 AMG. Just something with 600 horsepower, 738 foot-pounds of torque.
CM: Would that be enough?
DM: Barely.
