Your dad is basically telling the truth.

Older cars generally relied much more heavily on mechanical systems than today’s vehicles. Routine jobs such as changing oil and filters, replacing spark plugs, adjusting ignition timing, servicing carburetors, changing belts, and replacing other basic components were commonly tackled by mechanically inclined owners at home.

Repair manuals were especially valuable. They provided diagrams, specifications, troubleshooting information, and step-by-step instructions long before online videos existed.

That doesn’t mean everyone repaired their own car, or that people literally tuned their engines every weekend. Professional mechanics were just as important then, and complicated repairs still required experience and specialized equipment.

But the driveway mechanic was certainly real.

Modern cars are different. They’re generally more reliable and require fewer traditional tune-ups, but they also contain sophisticated electronics, computer-controlled engines, sensors, safety systems, and modules that may require diagnostic equipment for certain repairs.

People can still change their own oil, brakes, filters, batteries, and many other components today. But diagnosing some modern problems can mean connecting a scan tool before picking up a wrench.

So Dad wasn’t necessarily messing with you.

There really was a time when a repair manual, a decent toolbox, and a willingness to get your hands dirty could take you surprisingly far.

And for plenty of people, it still can.

Who remembers working on cars in the driveway—and what repairs did you do yourself?