Yes, we know this picture is posed, but there's something about these ladies that makes us think they regularly get their hands dirty fixing engines. On the left we see a micrometer to measure the piston diameter for ovality. In the middle she seems to be shining a torch to see if the tappets are worn? And on the right - with a kindly face and a wedding ring - she has successfully lifted the rear block of her 6 cylinder engine and is looking for wear in the gudgeon pin bush.
We know of several ladies who mend their own cars so hats off to all female fettlers and especially those who stop and help we men change a wheel at the side of the road.
Text Robin Batchelor, picture courtesy Library of Congress.