Classic Cars

Classic cars are a hot commodity on the automotive scene.  It seems that a huge percentage of Baby Boomers have decided to reconnect with their youth by purchasing the cars and trucks that they lusted after so many years ago.  In particular, classic cars from the 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’s have garnered the most attention and can be considered as the golden period of American and European automotive design.

For aspiring mechanics who also feel a connection to classic cars and who would love to marry their passion for antique metal to their profession, there are many different ways to get involved in this particular business.  For those who want to get their feet wet without having to make a huge investment in time or equipment, becoming a classic car inspector is an easy method for taking the first steps in this interesting field.  Inspectors are in high demand from both collectors and individual buyers who are interested in having a mechanic thoroughly investigate a vehicle prior to making a purchase.  Specifically, inspectors keep an eye out for mechanical defects, structural problems, or rust, as well as any problem areas that might pose difficulties down the road.  Since most cars of this era are simple from a design perspective, inspection work can typically be done with standard tools.  However, it helps to build an in-depth knowledge of period-specific details in order to be able to spot any missing features or components which may not be original to the vehicle in question.

Classic car restoration is another area of the business that appeals to many mechanics.  Older cars almost always require at least some level of repair, and this can range from an all-out, frame-off restoration to a more conservative mechanical freshening or paint refinishing.  Working with classic cars in this respect can require a great deal of patience, as not all of the parts needed to complete a job are always easy to locate.  In some cases, new replacement parts may no longer be available, meaning that mechanics must search through salvage yards and swap meets in order to find the components that they need.  In extreme cases, fabrication might be required in order to build parts which are simply too rare to source any other way.

Body work on antique cars and trucks demands similar patience.  The design tolerances of older vehicles were far less strict than they are today, which means that panels do not fit together as easily as on a modern car.  Over time, a vehicle’s frame might also be somewhat bent or warped, which can lead to further difficulties when putting things together.  Customers who come to a mechanic for restoration expect their car to look as perfect as possible when it is completely assembled, which means that mechanics have to invest the time required when finishing off a project in the most professional manner.

A growing sector of the classic car field has to do with restomods, which are restorations that use the basic shell of an older car but add a modern drivetrain.  To many mechanics, this is the aspect of the collector car business which is the most appealing, due to the creativity involved in building custom automobiles that combine the best that today’s automotive technology has to offer with the classic designs of the past.  Restomods also often focus on high performance, which can be an endlessly fascinating aspect of the classic car hobby for mechanics who love to squeeze as much horsepower out of an engine as they possibly can.