Hard Luck Automotive Keeping Oklahomans Safe On The Road

At Hard Luck Automotive Services, they have saved Oklahomans over one million dollars repairing cars one vehicle at a time.

“Average saving per customer is around four hundred sixteen dollars per person, and last year we helped eleven hundred people,” said Adam Ely, founder and owner of Hard Luck Automotive Services.

The nonprofit repairs cars for veterans, single parents, kids, and really anyone needing a little help.

“Four hundred and seventy-five bucks is not a bad deal to do a tune-up, but if your four hundred and seventy-five bucks is your whole two weeks’ paycheck,” said Ely.

Ely started Hard Luck after helping a pizza delivery driver fix her car.

“She hands me this huge stack of reject pizzas, and with tears in her eyes thanking me because she drove around all day not worrying about her car failing,” said Ely.  

The moment of appreciation prompted him to make a Facebook post.

“I want to help people with simple car repairs, and six weeks later, my inbox on my Facebook page was jam-packed full we started a separate page, that’s when hard luck was born,” said Ely.

Because he didn’t have a shop, initially, he packed up his toolbox and went to the customers.

“On my days off I would go into my messages, catch that next message, who could I help? I was changing starters in driveways, or alternators in people’s garages, or in the parking lot of their apartment complex,” said Ely.

Today Ely and his team of volunteers work out of his shop at 9244 NE 10th in Midwest City. Customers are served on a first come first serve basis. The vehicles are diagnosed, and customers are given a discount coupon to purchase parts and the work is done for free.  

“Every dime that we have brought in via donation or grant or merchandise sale, or Cash App, Venmo, or PayPal, one hundred percent of that has gone back into the mission,” said Ely.

He has now expanded his service to help the next generation of mechanics.

“We have kids that come and volunteer with us, whether they are doing community service, whether they are brought in by the scruff of the neck, or whether they just want to learn a marketable skill,” said Ely.  

“Just being here was fun and he helped me with my attitude and all that type of stuff,” said Alan Dyer, who went through the mentoring program.

Once kids complete the program, they are given a twenty-five hundred dollar tool kit and a lifelong skill.

“Now we’ve kind of found that our mission is helping these kids,” said Ely.

The nonprofit has helped many families since starting the business in 2017. The average cost per month to maintain the proper insurance, utility bills, and operations is around $3,500. To help support their efforts and continue to help Oklahomans, visit their website to donate www.hardluckauto.org