is a career in old car restoration viable?

[Carlos]

New to website/forum, but been watching and enjoying Eric’s youtube vids for about 6 months now. I’m a DIY/home mechanic, and a beginning one at that, so I really don’t have much experience to speak from, but ever since I started getting serious about learning repair/rebuild, automotive mechanics, and acquiring some kind of a foundaiton of skills to build on, I’ve had this nagging question about where my sudden passion for cars and fixing them is based on. It all started when I inherited an old Benz, a 1962 180c Ponton (W120 chassis) from my late father, who cherished it, as did the whole family, mom, bros, etc. Dad was not a mechanic, but he really loved the excellent quality of the design and eningeering, the reliability, and the elegant lines it has. I’ve fallen in love wtih the car and it is my inspiration for all classic cars.

Well, that was a long intro, and you’re probably wondering what question I have: I’d like to know, basically, if it’s worthwhile to become a mechanic of old/classic cars ONLY. Truth be told, I really dislike modern cars. Call me a dinosaur, but electronics on cars do not excite me at all. Carbureted engines, points, and electromechanical engines are really the only kind of cars that ignite my passion. I’m not sure if my intense dislike for modern cars has to do really more with my beginner skills than anything else. After all, there are some old cars with mechanical fuel injection that are classics, nice lines, no plastic, fiberglass. I really dislike scan tools, sensors, and electronics (on cars, anyway).

Was wondering if anyone else is with me on this? After the muscle car era, I think a lot of the joy has just been ripped out of auto mechanics and being a mechanic, at least as a fun hobby. I can’t afford to pay a mechanic to maintain my regular ride, and I certainly can’t pay a resto shop to help me maintain the old Benz. So that is how I got into this, DIY. I simply do not have the option right now economically to be able to pay what shops charge right now.

So the topic I’d love to see addressed is, if its a viable add-on (to my regular job) to take up classic auto restoration? Can I ignore modern cars and still make it as an auto mechanic? is there a market for restoration work (doesn’t have to be Benz necessarily, but I do love old Benzes, also America muscle cars I have a weakness for). Can I live in the past, completely ignoring ugly and unreliable modern electronics, sensors, and all the other junk cars these days have?

Anyway, I’ve talked all of your ears off, so I’m over and out.

I welcome any and all advice, help and guidance you may offer me.

Thanks,

Carlos

Topic

[EricTheCarGuy]

Anything is possible. However I would say 2 things in response to your question. First, everyone wants to do what you suggest when getting into auto repair. With the proliferation of TV shows on the topic, it’s gotten even worse over the past few years. That means the market is flooded with people trying to do it. Second, it’s hard enough with just a regular repair business to get by. Even more difficult with classic cars. It’s really a niche market. Not many people can afford to do it properly. Not to mention parts availability and the other challenges that go along with working on classic cars.

It takes a while to establish a business. I think that’s especially true with the business of restoring classic cars.

I’m not saying it’s not possible, just that it’s likely more difficult than you expect.

[Wes]

I’d say in general not really. In my experience as a classic car owner and someone who is somewhat in the restoration community, most people who are really passionate about their classics will do most if not all of the work on their cars themselves. Most of the time the people who pay people to restore their cars for them are the ones who really just want to have a classic just for the sake of having one, and as Eric said, there are a ton of people out there already doing it.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t try if it’s something you’re really passionate about. Since I consider myself an amateur I’d go around to the various classic car forums and ask them there especially if you have a particular car you favor. Who knows you might get lucky.

As to living in the past without all these complicated electronics and flashy gizmos and doodads, I’m right there with you, even though I’m not old enough to remember.

[Carlos]

Thanks, Eric, for your insightful reply. Your comments and help are immensely appreciated. I’ve noticed through several months of viewing your youtube vids that you don’t sugarcoat anything related to either the joys or challenges of the technical side or business side of automotive work. I enjoy your teachings for their instructive value to me in my journey to develop a foundation as an amatuer car mechanic, but I respect even more that you don’t tell us somehting that’s not true just because that’s what we want to hear. You respect us more than that. Needless to say, I will keep watching.

After reading your post (and supercar14’s), and giving it some more thought, I think I’m going to just stay an amateur mechanic for the time being, but an amateur in the original sense of the word “amateur”, a lover of the craft, and not in the sense of “substandard skills”. That’s what caught my attention with the classic car mechanic thing, that it seemed that I could lead an artisan’s life, working on cars on my own terms, picking and choosing to work on certain cars (non-modern ones), and being more a craftsman and not part of a team of techs, disposable and not in control of how I work. But as you said, I’ll have to build the restoration business up before I leave my day job (actually, I’m a small biz owner myself – language services). As you imply, this wil ltake time. It will be a slog to attract customers, parts may be a challenge too, although Ebay has alleviated the problem somewhat as compared to pre-internet days. At any rate, I will have to build a name for myself, somehow stand out..

Thanks for your encouragment and thanks for all you do for educating us here at home.

Carlos

[Carlos]

Thanks, supercar14, you make some good points. I did notice that most of the members of the IPOG email group I belong to definitely are interested in maintaining, rebuilding, and to the extent possible, restoring their own Ponton benzes. While I agree that there’s a ton of people doing it, because of tv, the internet, etc., I think that the country in some ways has become a lot richer, at least for the uber-wealthy segment of the country who collect classics. I do have a passion and searching the internet, I’ve found many businesses that cater to classic Mercedes parts and service, but I also see that several of these took years, if not decades, to grow into sizeable companies. I do realize that having the fire in the belly might not be enough to pay the bills…

I also see the investment in equipment and tools that goes with opening a real shop as a genuine hurdle to be overcome. Taking care of the family and also establishing a fund for tools and a future shop is a daunting challenge, the more I think about it. To conclude, I suppose the best way to approach my goal is take the long view…It will happen in due time, no sooner. Meanwhile, I will definitely try to enjoy the journey. It’s also how you work, not the destination. If I can help others maintain and own these beautiful classics, that’s satisfying in and of itself.

Over and out.

C

[Gary]

I am also a classic car and truck enthusiast and have two classic trucks, one that I restored and one that I bought mostly restored. I have also restored a tractor and am in tune with my local restoration community through friends, shows and coworkers.
I’m right there with you on how ridiculous cars have gotten with electronics, and I hope to open my own restoration shop someday to keep the old American iron alive.

From previous experience, restoration in itself can get very expensive and time consuming, nevermind running a resto shop.
It is better to establish yourself as a mechanic first with the tools and knowledge as well as reputation, certifications and experience.

For example, I am a tech at a “normal car” repair shop at the moment and for the most part, I get my classic car kicks on the side. Most restoration shops won’t even look at you until you have some serious knowledge and experience under your belt so gradually I put my side work/ classic car experience on my resume. Eventually I will move on to a restoration shop and gain more experience and when the time is right open my own.

Point being, it would not be wise to open your own shop first thing. You need experience(and money!) which only comes with time.
As said above it is a niche market and you will have to set yourself apart. It takes years to establish a business and client base and most businesses statistically fail within the first 6 months.

It is a labor of love, it is a passion these classics. The generations that grew up with them might not be around for much longer and it will be up to us, the younger generations to either keep these masterpieces from the past alive and carry the torch, or drop the torch and let them rust into the history books.

There is not much profit in restoration, we do it because we want to preserve the past, one that cannot be recreated.

[Jon Hart]

The short answer is no classic car restoration is a really over saturated market since the host of tv shows showing them making “easy money” up until recently I worked in a main dealership and the biggest demand at the moment is diagnostics, that’s not to say you cant make money on classic cars but having completed a few myself I’ve personally found doing as little as possible yields the best profit. Clean it up get it running make it safe and leave it as a blank canvas for the newer owner to build as they want. My first project was a total restore with only evening and weekends at my disposal it took nearly 6 months and hundreds of hours when sold it made about $4000 over the parts + car cost the next project was bare bones had it running and stopping and nice a clean about 16 hours in the car and about less than $800 (excluding the cost of the vehicle) and that made just under $2000 profit all in saying that I’ve had a project or two that I’ve put 20+ hours and struggled to sell it for more than I paid for it.

What I will say is give it a try just evening/weekends and see how you get on, you really need to be proficient at a lot of different things as outside labour charges will destroy any potential profit very quickly.

[Gareth Randall]

Just to add to what others have said, the only real way to make money in old car resto/servicing is to be the specialist guy who everybody recommends you go to – and you often can’t reach that stage untll you’ve been a professional mechanic for decades, preferably working in a shop that deals with a lot of that sort of stuff.

My parents used to know a guy who started out as the local independent mechanic in their village. He worked on whatever came through the door during the day, and indulged his passion for restoring old luxury cars in his spare time. Fast-forward about 20 years and he’d become a specialist in classic car restoration and servicing. He had a nationwide reputation in his field and owners of classic cars (especially old Rolls-Royces and Bentleys) would travel hundreds of miles to have him do their restorations and servicing. And of course, once you’ve reached that stage, you can ask for and get serious money, because your clients are the people who can afford it.

[Ray]

I say if you have a passion for something you should follow your dreams. It is also important to be realistic.

Starting a business takes time, money, and resources. If you’re going to be a sole proprietor you would need auto mechanic experiencece, engine rebuilding skils and lots of it.

You have to decide are you going to also provide transmission service, frame, body and interior work and provide a complete package? Or have the customer source all that on their own?

You could market yourself as a classic car mechanic only and specify the years and types of cars you specialize in.

I’ve been interested in vintage cars for a while. I see the classic and vintage car market aging and honestly passing away. I don’t see many young people into cars like it was in the 50’s-70’s. Young people today, who would be your future customers, are into high-tech.

I see classic cars as a limited, niche market that is shrinking not growing. After this last project I’m working on I’m actually considering selling my collector cars and moving on to other interests. Very few seem to be getting into the hobby.

That’s not to say you can’t make money at it. I don’t see it having growth potential or longevity.

[Author]

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