01/15/2025
Rest Peacefully Peter Kline. I could write a lot about who Pete was for me, what he represented and how he inspired me. I’ll save all the story’s for when I see ya’ll, feel free to ask. But here’s a snapshot. I met Pete Kline when I was about 14 (or so) years of age. He was the founder, owner operator, and principal mechanic at Import Service on Lehigh here in Glenview (just a stone’s throw from where Be Aircooled is today). He sold his shop in 2008 and the building it was in got plowed down. Dan runs it now, Dan’s a good guy… anyhow.
My dad took his 1965 Beetle to Pete for something that we couldn’t quite manage at home and when the car was done with that service I was finished with school for the day and my dad took me to meet Pete and pick up the car. Pete was sharp as they come, quite, but when he spoke it was either a dry joke that stuck like a dart in a board, or a particular piece of automotive knowledge that only “old timers” with experience could possess and share off the cuff like it was common knowledge taught in school. He showed me things in his shop any time I’d ask, even when I didn’t (especially when I didn’t) he knew it mattered. He offered me a job at 16 but I didn’t have my drivers license so I couldn’t accept.
Fast forward to Be Aircooled moving into the Lehigh building and one day I happen to see Pete visiting a friend in my same location at a different unit. We catch up he doesn’t say much, but a week later he shows up with a box of his old tools. (Pete was a VW dealer mechanic for many years started at 15 in Ohio at a VW dealership there.) Well, this would happen from time to time as recently as a few months ago. Another “Here! These are for you. I’m not gonna use them ever again.” Said with a smile from the very corner of his mouth. Pete was 77. His tools are integrated with mine, and other’s who have given me gifts and mentoring through the years. And some day if I’m lucky enough to hand them off personally I’ll tell whoever holds them next of this kind man, great mechanic, and generous human who could do the king and link pins on a Type 1 in 30mins or less.