Classic mechanic services - Worth pursuing?
Discussion
Hi all.
Just joined Pistonheads on the recommendation of a mate, and thought I'd gather a few opinions from you guys to gauge interest...
I'm a professional mechanic, and have been for many years. I have a small workshop and a regular customer base which keeps me busy. But:
I'm getting very disillusioned with working on modern cars. There's less and less that can be repaired and it's more usually a case of module-swapping now rather than proper engineering.
For a while now I've been considering getting into the classic end of the market. It strikes me that "Old school" mechanics like me are a dying breed and that today's classic owner must find it quite difficult to find a garage with the knowledge and enthusiasm to work on older cars with honest advice and sensible labour rates.
What do you guys think? Would it be worth say, taking a small stand at somewhere like Beaulieu and seeing what comes of it? Or maybe advertsising in the classifieds of some of the magazines?
Any thoughts or opinions would be most welcome!
Cheers!
John.
Just joined Pistonheads on the recommendation of a mate, and thought I'd gather a few opinions from you guys to gauge interest...
I'm a professional mechanic, and have been for many years. I have a small workshop and a regular customer base which keeps me busy. But:
I'm getting very disillusioned with working on modern cars. There's less and less that can be repaired and it's more usually a case of module-swapping now rather than proper engineering.
For a while now I've been considering getting into the classic end of the market. It strikes me that "Old school" mechanics like me are a dying breed and that today's classic owner must find it quite difficult to find a garage with the knowledge and enthusiasm to work on older cars with honest advice and sensible labour rates.
What do you guys think? Would it be worth say, taking a small stand at somewhere like Beaulieu and seeing what comes of it? Or maybe advertsising in the classifieds of some of the magazines?
Any thoughts or opinions would be most welcome!
Cheers!
John.
as a classic owner for many years, I find the services of an understanding MOT shop to be the most useful garage service. I will fix my classic cars myself as this is one of the reasons I own old cars. I am sure there will be Plenty of people to use your services, in fact when it takes off i would like to work for you.
John Odell said:
Hi all.
Just joined Pistonheads on the recommendation of a mate, and thought I'd gather a few opinions from you guys to gauge interest...
I'm a professional mechanic, and have been for many years. I have a small workshop and a regular customer base which keeps me busy. But:
I'm getting very disillusioned with working on modern cars. There's less and less that can be repaired and it's more usually a case of module-swapping now rather than proper engineering.
For a while now I've been considering getting into the classic end of the market. It strikes me that "Old school" mechanics like me are a dying breed and that today's classic owner must find it quite difficult to find a garage with the knowledge and enthusiasm to work on older cars with honest advice and sensible labour rates.
What do you guys think? Would it be worth say, taking a small stand at somewhere like Beaulieu and seeing what comes of it? Or maybe advertsising in the classifieds of some of the magazines?
Any thoughts or opinions would be most welcome!
Cheers!
John.
Welcome to PH John. If you check out my website through my profile on here it will give you an idea of what type of work you have to handle. You have the advantage over me of being in England; we just don't have the same classic turnover up here sadly. I have found however that the website is the best form of marketing; apart from personal referrals.Just joined Pistonheads on the recommendation of a mate, and thought I'd gather a few opinions from you guys to gauge interest...
I'm a professional mechanic, and have been for many years. I have a small workshop and a regular customer base which keeps me busy. But:
I'm getting very disillusioned with working on modern cars. There's less and less that can be repaired and it's more usually a case of module-swapping now rather than proper engineering.
For a while now I've been considering getting into the classic end of the market. It strikes me that "Old school" mechanics like me are a dying breed and that today's classic owner must find it quite difficult to find a garage with the knowledge and enthusiasm to work on older cars with honest advice and sensible labour rates.
What do you guys think? Would it be worth say, taking a small stand at somewhere like Beaulieu and seeing what comes of it? Or maybe advertsising in the classifieds of some of the magazines?
Any thoughts or opinions would be most welcome!
Cheers!
John.
You are spot on about two things; the first being the fact that old school motor engineers like you and I are fast disappearing, mainly due to the technology in newer cars being vastly different from the older models. Secondly, new vehicles are becoming so difficult and complex to repair that the cost of doing do is often totally disproportionate to the value and type of the vehicle.
There is a certain satisfaction in setting up a set of Webers or SUs and making an old car purr that you just don't get with new stuff. So I would say to you to get stuck in and enjoy it. Just don't expect to make a fortune!
Regards,
James
The only reason I own older cars is because I don't need a mechanic to keep em running. You can take engines and boxes out with a knife fork and spoon and theres no silly ECUs and all the other stuff to complicate matters. Everythings so basic and elementary mechanics (thankfully). But lift the bonnet of my later family vehicles and the bonnet goes straight back down again.
You could put some ads into some car club mags and whatnot offering good deals, certainly the higher value classics have owners who go to specialists to service them, unfortunately, a lot of people like myself have classics because they mean I don't need someone with a bunch of computer equipment to fix stuff on them.
Your best bet is to find your market before you pursue it, it's one thing to go for it once you have the clients, but to try this without having people to support you is going to be rough.
Most people with classics who get them serviced are paying well over what they should be from what I've seen, but they also trust the people they're going to. That's a hard bond to break.
Your best bet is to find your market before you pursue it, it's one thing to go for it once you have the clients, but to try this without having people to support you is going to be rough.
Most people with classics who get them serviced are paying well over what they should be from what I've seen, but they also trust the people they're going to. That's a hard bond to break.
Thanks for all the opinions gents! 
Lots of stuff to think about there. I wouldn't intend to shut down my "modern" interests, because there's enough to keep me busy with "Bread and butter" type work such as servicing, etc. But I just had a hunch that being able to offer a service that's more than a shrug and a "Dunno mate. can't get the parts for these old'uns like" may be of interest to a few people. Mind you, I wouldn't be averse to specializing if I get busy enough because of it!
I know what you guys are saying with regards to old car owners in that they tend to be mechanically-minded and so will undertake most work themselves, but there are, I think, still ocassions where people don't have the time/inclination/facilities/skill/courage to do all of it themselves.
The guy that put me onto Pistonheads here being a case in point. He's a reasonably competent home mechanic and an ex auto electrician. He does his own servicing, niggly little fixes, etc. but comes to me when he needs someone able to get the car up in the air and handle big jobs that he can't do on his driveway at home.
For many years I looked after a couple of old Mercs that he had and undertook stuff like coil spring replacements, new ball joints and the like. Everyday stuff for me, but not something that he would have even contemplated on his own. And sometimes I wish I hadn't either! But they all got done and he's been coming to me for well over 20 years, so I must be doing something right.
I guess it may well be worth considering some advertising in the classic magazines by the sound of things. Just a bit of variety from endless modern service jobs would be a pleasant change, plus I could crack on with some of the classic stuff when it's quieter which would keep me busy constantly rather than rush/dead/rush like it sometimes is at the moment.
Thanks all for your thoughts! Much appreciated.
John.
Lots of stuff to think about there. I wouldn't intend to shut down my "modern" interests, because there's enough to keep me busy with "Bread and butter" type work such as servicing, etc. But I just had a hunch that being able to offer a service that's more than a shrug and a "Dunno mate. can't get the parts for these old'uns like" may be of interest to a few people. Mind you, I wouldn't be averse to specializing if I get busy enough because of it!
I know what you guys are saying with regards to old car owners in that they tend to be mechanically-minded and so will undertake most work themselves, but there are, I think, still ocassions where people don't have the time/inclination/facilities/skill/courage to do all of it themselves.
The guy that put me onto Pistonheads here being a case in point. He's a reasonably competent home mechanic and an ex auto electrician. He does his own servicing, niggly little fixes, etc. but comes to me when he needs someone able to get the car up in the air and handle big jobs that he can't do on his driveway at home.
For many years I looked after a couple of old Mercs that he had and undertook stuff like coil spring replacements, new ball joints and the like. Everyday stuff for me, but not something that he would have even contemplated on his own. And sometimes I wish I hadn't either! But they all got done and he's been coming to me for well over 20 years, so I must be doing something right.
I guess it may well be worth considering some advertising in the classic magazines by the sound of things. Just a bit of variety from endless modern service jobs would be a pleasant change, plus I could crack on with some of the classic stuff when it's quieter which would keep me busy constantly rather than rush/dead/rush like it sometimes is at the moment.
Thanks all for your thoughts! Much appreciated.
John.
Edited by John Odell on Wednesday 23 February 20:24
Hi John
I'd like to wish you good luck, there is a demand.
The garage I use is a marque specialist & has sufficient work in the summer 'season', but in the winter has to supplememnt it with bread & butter work on moderns. If you do specialise, go for the volume classic market like Triumph, MG, Alfa, etc(or all of them), not something minor like Panhard or Jensen which is too small a market.
What area are you in?
I'd like to wish you good luck, there is a demand.
The garage I use is a marque specialist & has sufficient work in the summer 'season', but in the winter has to supplememnt it with bread & butter work on moderns. If you do specialise, go for the volume classic market like Triumph, MG, Alfa, etc(or all of them), not something minor like Panhard or Jensen which is too small a market.
What area are you in?
John Odell said:
....but comes to me when he needs someone able to get the car up in the air and handle big jobs that he can't do on his driveway at home...
John, I'd say thats where you should start adrvetising your garage/workshop.I have a good mate that has a small indy garage that sounds like your place.
Couple of years ago he needed an new mechanic, the local collage sent young lads along that only knew how to change parts not diagnose problems.
After many months he found the right person, the new guy even knew what a set of points were!
The reason this guy knew that was because he was a car person not just another young lad that thought it would be easy to fix cars.
One down side in fixing classics is that you may have to have the car at your place for a while whilst you wait for parts/the owner to source parts.
Old cars are so much easier to work on - I'm currently taking the engine out of a modern Astra, I've undone about 5 million electic plugs and 5 bolts!
Slight exaggeration, I know, but not by much!
John Odell said:
Everyday stuff for me, but not something that he would have even contemplated on his own. And sometimes I wish I hadn't either! But they all got done and he's been coming to me for well over 20 years, so I must be doing something right.
I guess it may well be worth considering some advertising in the classic magazines by the sound of things.
Actually, I just thought of something. Get a classic of your own, get it up to scratch and get along to some of your local Summer weekend classic car rallies/shows/etc. (Don't know where you are, but there are dozens around Suffolk all through Summer.) I guess it may well be worth considering some advertising in the classic magazines by the sound of things.
If you make yourself known to the typical er... 'getting on a bit' chaps, it could be worthwhile longer term. Show the quality of your work, get networking, etc. A lot of these guys have the know-how but find it harder and harder to do the trickier/heavier jobs.
I do this, American mainly but also European, truth is that although it is what I love doing it does not pay the bills.
The thing is most classic owners enjoy fixing and fettling their own cars, it is part of the joy of owning them. The MOT is different, I know many testers that will fail a first gen Mustang on sloppy steering when in fact it is a design anomaly and perfectly OK.
The idea of jetting carbs or gapping points, valve gaps, re-corking clutch driven plates, re-building dynamos, positive earth, lever arm damper oil levels etc is stuff we take in our stride that mr twenty something BMW trained 'mechanic' has probably never come across, his loss but the fact is we are a dying breed.
Mechanics now seem to be parts swappers, no need or time to solve and fix.
Go into this with your eyes open and be prepared to accept that the usual stuff will pay the bills and the nice stuff will keep you sane!
This from someone who restored a car well enough to take overall best in show at the 'Brum calssic car show.
Best of luck and the thing is enjoy what you do!
The thing is most classic owners enjoy fixing and fettling their own cars, it is part of the joy of owning them. The MOT is different, I know many testers that will fail a first gen Mustang on sloppy steering when in fact it is a design anomaly and perfectly OK.
The idea of jetting carbs or gapping points, valve gaps, re-corking clutch driven plates, re-building dynamos, positive earth, lever arm damper oil levels etc is stuff we take in our stride that mr twenty something BMW trained 'mechanic' has probably never come across, his loss but the fact is we are a dying breed.
Mechanics now seem to be parts swappers, no need or time to solve and fix.
Go into this with your eyes open and be prepared to accept that the usual stuff will pay the bills and the nice stuff will keep you sane!
This from someone who restored a car well enough to take overall best in show at the 'Brum calssic car show.
Best of luck and the thing is enjoy what you do!
John,
a doomsayer here -
I'd like to see you set up for classics as you are near to me - the industry needs lots more good, compotent and honest pepole in it to outweight some of the rip-off merchants that are able to remain in business
A lot of classic car owners rarely use the car and certainly don't want to pay a reasonable price for things like servicing and parts, shiny bits yes
Many that do actually run their cars, if only occasionally, seem quite happy to accept faults or use the car even less
Parts and component quality can on ocassions be low to absymal from suppliers, reconditioners and manufacturers which means you doing labour for nothing to replace these that you have just fitted and probably ending up paying for the parts twice and loosing the customer as they blame you
There also appears to be almost as many bad customers as bad companies
As has been said before you wont get rich but IF you were able to pick the right thing to specialise in and you was good at it and running a business (no need to be much more than good at either) then after a time you could have a steady business at that and drop the modern stuff
I used to go to a chap and he'd tell me about some of his customers' expectations and I suggested that as he was always busy to increase his very low prices to get rid of these idiots who want something for nothing - so he did, guess which customer he chose to impliment his first price increase to, and his second price increase
I'm not saying charge too much but just as fatal to charge too little - famous case, Wharfdale made good lower end hif-fi speakers in the 60s or 70s had good sales but weren't making enough money, they increased the selling price and sold more as the end customers percieved a greater value in the product because of its higher price
I think you'd have to start by working for a concern that specialising in working on classics to see what it's about and if it's really for you - I've no idea of the staff turnover at these places but that only could give you an insight and provide you with a wage and experience of the classic world
Good luck, many very poor classic car businesses have remained for many years so there is the work out there (email me and I'll name a few for you)
a doomsayer here -
I'd like to see you set up for classics as you are near to me - the industry needs lots more good, compotent and honest pepole in it to outweight some of the rip-off merchants that are able to remain in business
A lot of classic car owners rarely use the car and certainly don't want to pay a reasonable price for things like servicing and parts, shiny bits yes
Many that do actually run their cars, if only occasionally, seem quite happy to accept faults or use the car even less
Parts and component quality can on ocassions be low to absymal from suppliers, reconditioners and manufacturers which means you doing labour for nothing to replace these that you have just fitted and probably ending up paying for the parts twice and loosing the customer as they blame you
There also appears to be almost as many bad customers as bad companies
As has been said before you wont get rich but IF you were able to pick the right thing to specialise in and you was good at it and running a business (no need to be much more than good at either) then after a time you could have a steady business at that and drop the modern stuff
I used to go to a chap and he'd tell me about some of his customers' expectations and I suggested that as he was always busy to increase his very low prices to get rid of these idiots who want something for nothing - so he did, guess which customer he chose to impliment his first price increase to, and his second price increase
I'm not saying charge too much but just as fatal to charge too little - famous case, Wharfdale made good lower end hif-fi speakers in the 60s or 70s had good sales but weren't making enough money, they increased the selling price and sold more as the end customers percieved a greater value in the product because of its higher price
I think you'd have to start by working for a concern that specialising in working on classics to see what it's about and if it's really for you - I've no idea of the staff turnover at these places but that only could give you an insight and provide you with a wage and experience of the classic world
Good luck, many very poor classic car businesses have remained for many years so there is the work out there (email me and I'll name a few for you)
Edited by na on Saturday 26th February 14:59
Welcome to the forum John.
Maybe you could consider offering your services to owners of the more up-market classics, as they may be able to afford to pay you a living wage.
I used to live next door to a guy who specialised in servicing classic Mercedes and Jaguars. He also set up an ebay site from where he sold spares for them.
Before he retired he'd had a Ford main dealership.
Anyway he seemed content, and was making a profit.
I found it useful that he had one of the old Crypton machines.
A lot of the problems raised on here seem to concern minor engine tuning/fault diagnosis issues, which a traditional mechanic (I always think) would be able to sort out without too much trouble or expense, but would be a godsend to an owner who had been scratching his head for weeks, and wasting money on unnecessary parts. This would include more recent fuel-injected classics too, like 2.8 Cologne-powered and RV8-powered TVRs, of which I have some experience.
Consider this also:
Although a lot of classic owners (such as myself) ARE well able to fix their own cars if push comes to shove, we also have busy lives and jobs or businesses, and time is money whether you're earning it or spending it.
I have sent my cars off to specialists and local trusted mechanics to do work simply because I don't have the time to do it myself, and I want to DRIVE the car.
Maybe you could consider offering your services to owners of the more up-market classics, as they may be able to afford to pay you a living wage.
I used to live next door to a guy who specialised in servicing classic Mercedes and Jaguars. He also set up an ebay site from where he sold spares for them.
Before he retired he'd had a Ford main dealership.
Anyway he seemed content, and was making a profit.
I found it useful that he had one of the old Crypton machines.
A lot of the problems raised on here seem to concern minor engine tuning/fault diagnosis issues, which a traditional mechanic (I always think) would be able to sort out without too much trouble or expense, but would be a godsend to an owner who had been scratching his head for weeks, and wasting money on unnecessary parts. This would include more recent fuel-injected classics too, like 2.8 Cologne-powered and RV8-powered TVRs, of which I have some experience.
Consider this also:
Although a lot of classic owners (such as myself) ARE well able to fix their own cars if push comes to shove, we also have busy lives and jobs or businesses, and time is money whether you're earning it or spending it.
I have sent my cars off to specialists and local trusted mechanics to do work simply because I don't have the time to do it myself, and I want to DRIVE the car.
Edited by grahamw48 on Sunday 27th February 00:58
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff