Attracting Hercules' Car

 Hercules had a car?

Well, sorta.

Legendary bodybuilder Steve Reeves became a world famous movie star with the 1958 Italian film Fatiche di Ercole, Le, known in the U.S. as Hercules.

Reeves inspired thousands, from Sly Stallone to Arnold S. to, well, me.

Stallone saw Reeves in a movie, came out of the theatre pumped up, and decided right then and there to become fit.

Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote, “Steve Reeves is a great man and has contributed much to the sport of bodybuilding. Steve was a great inspiration to me.”

Lou Ferrigno said, “After seeing Goliath and the Barbarians, I decided to start bodybuilding and look like Steve.”

When I wanted to get fit, I imagined what I might look like as Steve Reeves. So I had Nerissa photoshop my face on Steve’s body. (See above pic. Left click on it to enlarge.)

I’ll never look exactly like Steve Reeves (nobody will), but the “vision tool” helped inspire me to take action, enter seven fitness contests, and lose eighty pounds.

Steve was 6’1, 215 pounds and won several contests, including Mr. America. His natural approach to fitness and the classic physique remain valid, though most people seeking muscle today are seeking mutant size gains at the expense of health.

Not Reeves.  He was anti-steroid, all natural, and very humble, honorable and hard-working. 

I never met Reeves. It’s a major regret. I have books by and about him, including some very scare and expensive biographies, such as the rare Steve Reeves: Worlds to Conquer.

When I wanted to train with a legend, I went to Frank Zane, as Reeves was long gone.

But recently I heard Steve Reeves’ car was for sale. Since I’ve become pretty good at attracting cars, I decided to go for it.

It’s a 1977 Jaguar XJS, V-12, silver, with only 56K miles on it.

Story is Reeves went into a showroom in Beverly Hills in 1977, saw the car and asked to buy it.

He was told no, (How do you tell Hercules no???) that the car was on hold for actor Rock Hudson.

Reeves said he knew Hudson was out of the country shooting a movie, and said to sell the car to him and get another for Hudson.

The salesman agreed. (Again, how do you tell Hercules no???)

Reeves bought the car and kept it until his death in 2000.

It’s been sitting in a garage ever since.

The man who has the car is in charge of Reeves estate. He wanted to show the car at the upcoming Steve Reeves Film Festival, but needed to make room in his home for another car he bought for himself. He was finally thinking of selling it.

I sensed a win-win-win opportunity brewing in the air…

I asked him to let me buy the car, but said he could keep it for the festival and I’d pick it up after it.

Furthermore, I added, fix the car up, repaint it, and make it something Reeves would be proud of and his fans would love to see. I said I would gladly pay to have the car restored to showroom condition.

Why did I offer so much?

1. Steve’s car deserves to be perfect for the spirit of Steve. It’s a classic car museum piece.

2. Steve’s fans deserve to see the car looking pristine (which would also make the man putting on the event look good).

3. Steve’s car would be ready for me to drive off after the event and head to Texas with it. 🙂

This win-win-win appealed to the owner and he agreed to sell me Steve’s car on the spot.

There are several lessons here, of course. Here’s one:

  I think many people try to buy items without considering the possible win-win negotiations that can be made.

I learned this lesson when I researched marketing genius P.T. Barnum and saw the creative way he bought The American Museum — with no money — and turned it into his first big success and his greatest love. (Story is in my book, There’s a Customer Born Every Minute.)

It’s not win-lose but win-win when you think of what the other person wants and also keep in mind what you want.

I’ve never thought of myself as a master of negotiation, but I do know that if I get what I want, and the other person gets what they want, and anyone else involved is happy, then I contribute peace to the world.

Steve Reeves, I believe, would approve.

Ao Akua,

joe
www.mrfire.com

PS – Confession time: After I bought Reeves’ car, I had second thoughts. Buyer’s remorse began to creep in. Who was I to buy yet another car? I already have Steven Tyler’s Panoz Roadster and of course Francine and two BMWs. And I work at home and rarely drive anywhere. (!) But then my personal fitness trainer, Scott York, called. He congratulated me on the triumphant purchase and sharp deal, and said “Considering how much you idolize Steve Reeves, this is a historic moment.” He’s right. The car will become a touchstone of legend to me. It’s actually priceless.

PPS — Scott will accompany me to pick up the car at the Steve Reeves Film Festival August 21-22 in San Diego. For details on the Festival see www.stevereeves.com/inc-sris-news.htm 

Note: You can see the excitement in my face as Nerissa films me talking about buying the Hercules car on my video blog at http://drjoevitale.blogspot.com/