Santa Monica Collision Center

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. One morning, as customers were gathering their belongings after repairs, an old man approached the counter and asked the mechanic, ‘Do you ever wonder why every fifth tire here is exactly one inch shorter than the others?’ The mechanic shrugged it off, but soon enough, everyone started noticing strange things happening around the shop—like cars mysteriously losing air on Fridays. Finally, one Friday afternoon, a delivery driver walked in, complaining that his tires had gone flat again. The mechanic looked up and said, 'Ah, Mr. Smith, looks like today’s your lucky day!' He then pulled out five identical tires from under the counter and quipped, 'Just take these home, they’re brand new.' Everyone burst into laughter, realizing it was just another Santa Monica prank.

2. A little boy walked into the Santa Monica Collision Center with his mother one afternoon. As he followed her through the workshop, his eyes widened when he saw a mechanic painting a car in bright pink and purple stripes. 'Mom,' he whispered, ‘why would anyone want to paint a car like that?' His mom smiled and explained, ‘Son, some people just love colorful cars.’ The mechanic overheard them and chuckled, replying, ‘Actually, it’s for a delivery driver who thinks it makes him stand out on the freeway!’ The little boy nodded wisely, thinking maybe grown-ups had their reasons after all.

3. A curious poodle named Max followed its owner into the Santa Monica Collision Center one afternoon. As the receptionist checked in the customer, she noticed something odd—Max kept sniffing around the counter and then looked up at her with an expression that seemed almost accusatory. Finally, the receptionist realized what Max was trying to tell her—he had accidentally left his favorite toy in the shop the day before. With a smile, she handed it back, and Max scampered out happily, wagging his tail. The owner chuckled and said, ‘Another regular customer comes through!’

4. One afternoon, while a delivery driver was waiting for parts, he heard a strange humming sound coming from inside the workshop. Curious, he peered through the window and saw a mechanic dancing to an invisible tune, singing along with perfect pitch. As it turned out, the mechanic had just discovered a new radio station on his old-fashioned AM radio—one that played only classic hits from the 80s. The delivery driver joined in, whistling along with Duran Duran’s ‘Save a Prayer.’ By the time they were done, both had forgotten why they’d come there in the first place. A regular passing by commented, ‘That’s some serious garage karaoke!’