OHMS LAW
Well-known member
How's it going guys? Well I have a question for the professional technicians. Would it be better to work at an established classic car restoration shop or an actual repair shop. The pay is the about the same
Where would you rather work?
- Thread starter OHMS LAW
- Start date
Jrsixx
Well-known member
Resto shop gets my vote. Nothing like seeing something awesome that you had a hand in creating/restoring. No glory in doing an alternator on a 2000 focus.
Danver
Well-known member
I didn't do mechanical work but I worked in collision repair and some custom work for about 20 years. I would have loved to work in a restoration or custom body shop instead of working on newer cars and doing collision repairs.
The biggest drawback I could see with strictly working on the old stuff would be if you lost your job after quite a few years. Unless you kept up with the technology of the new cars your search for a new job might be limited without the ongoing experience of repairing current vehicles.
But yeah, I would have loved a chance at working on nothing but classics.
The biggest drawback I could see with strictly working on the old stuff would be if you lost your job after quite a few years. Unless you kept up with the technology of the new cars your search for a new job might be limited without the ongoing experience of repairing current vehicles.
But yeah, I would have loved a chance at working on nothing but classics.
Coopduc
Well-known member
The repair shop is probably a more secure job. There will always be insurance claims, etc, but in tough times, the resto shop work dries up quickly. Also,most resto shops work strictly on a time + parts basis. Most customers have a fixed amount of cash to spend and when that spending limit is reached the work stops, finished or not. Not very satisfying for someone who wants to see a project to completion.
That being said, I still think the resto shop would be my choice.
That being said, I still think the resto shop would be my choice.
countryroad82
Well-known member
I have worked in a resto shop plus done my fair share of restos in my own shop. I would rather work insurance jobs over resto work. You don't run into as much hackery with new stuff, your not fighting rust as much, and you are more likely to keep your job as people are always wrecking thier cars. I try to stay away from the resto work anymore, not that I don't still do it, I would rather do an insurance job though, more money and faster work. Yeah it's not as cool but it's job security.
mybuick6
Well-known member
resto shop. those people usually have a open checkbook but have a short deadline. if you go with a repair shop go with a corporation not a mom and pop shop as the times are still rough and you don't know if they will close down or not.
Jlbc212
Well-known member
I'd go to the repair facility. Lots of the old cars were junk the day they left the factory.
sberry
Banned
I second that.
mechanicalmoron
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2014
- Messages
- 178
Sounds a lot nicer to work for quality results with people with passion, rather than quick turnover on tinker-toy cars.
Maybe some old cars where junk when they left the factory.... and gm makes freakin' ignition switches that kill people, of all pathetic junk. Some things never change, but the old junk is still more fun than the new junk.
Maybe some old cars where junk when they left the factory.... and gm makes freakin' ignition switches that kill people, of all pathetic junk. Some things never change, but the old junk is still more fun than the new junk.
gearhead9056
Well-known member
IDK when you have to do it five times because the remans are all s*** it sure feels like a win when its done
Mike Miller
Well-known member
I worked in a fleet shop maintaining and repairing trucks and heavy equipment. It was a great way to earn a living and if you got good at it the money and job security was good. Who's to say twenty or thirty years from now owning an old vehicle will be as popular as it is now.
Danver
Well-known member
The only way it won't be is if the controlling government sticks their noses too far into it and regulates them beyond the possibility of ever being able to drive them.
nolimits76
Well-known member
So the odds are against us.
Seriously, I'd take the resto job. But that's because I like old cars and seeing them go from junk to awesome. In many ways I think this will be a more challenging job and require you to craft your skill. Mainly because you will be forced to think outside the box more often and make things work. With newer cars and repairs, it's kind of put it back the way it was without much creativity.
That being said, I do agree there might be more job security in the repair shop. Still I think if you are good at resto work, then normal repairs would be a breeze and you can make a transition when/if that time comes.
ambenz
Well-known member
I wanna work as a taste tester for a Brewery!
Oh, not a choice....nevermind!
I suppose a speciality position like a pinstriper, as in Von Dutch type work would be cool...if I had to work on classic cars...LOL!
Forget about the new stuff...too boring!
Oh, not a choice....nevermind!
I suppose a speciality position like a pinstriper, as in Von Dutch type work would be cool...if I had to work on classic cars...LOL!
Forget about the new stuff...too boring!
rburke65
Well-known member
Well I made cars at GM for 30 years, so it would be the resto shop.
Last edited:
Danver
Well-known member
I prefer a third option which is what I finally did. Quit busting my **** fixing cars for everyone else to make a living and get a completely unrelated job. Now I can actually get some motivation to do restoration/classic work on my own projects. Now my repair jobs take far too long but at least I don't have any pressure and there aren't any deadlines.
HMCFab9
Well-known member
Collision is probably quicker / easier money.
New cars you put a hood, fender, etc on.
Buy new, scuff, paint, install. EASY work / easy money !
I have worked in a classic auto restoration shop for 20+ years. Yeah... it's cool working on classic cars.... but it's a LOT more work!
One time I spent a week blocking 1 Cadillac quarter panel to get it straight because there were no replacement panels & the car had spent years in a building with a steel rack next to it. (the quarter was beat to hell)
When we did Ferrari's, we'd block sand all day every day for 5 weeks straight to get the car done on time.
Springtime kinda ***** because EVERY customer wants his car done NOW. They don't care that the other guys car is closer to being done.... they want theirs worked on first.
Money is easier with collision because the ins pays the bill.
With restorations, even if the customer has plenty of money to restore the car.....they still don't want to spend it.... so you wait for your money.
There's good & bad in both areas. If you want easy money & easy work, do collision / insurance.
If you don't mind getting dirty & don't mind a lot of manual labor, resto might be ok for you.
New cars you put a hood, fender, etc on.
Buy new, scuff, paint, install. EASY work / easy money !
I have worked in a classic auto restoration shop for 20+ years. Yeah... it's cool working on classic cars.... but it's a LOT more work!
One time I spent a week blocking 1 Cadillac quarter panel to get it straight because there were no replacement panels & the car had spent years in a building with a steel rack next to it. (the quarter was beat to hell)
When we did Ferrari's, we'd block sand all day every day for 5 weeks straight to get the car done on time.
Springtime kinda ***** because EVERY customer wants his car done NOW. They don't care that the other guys car is closer to being done.... they want theirs worked on first.
Money is easier with collision because the ins pays the bill.
With restorations, even if the customer has plenty of money to restore the car.....they still don't want to spend it.... so you wait for your money.
There's good & bad in both areas. If you want easy money & easy work, do collision / insurance.
If you don't mind getting dirty & don't mind a lot of manual labor, resto might be ok for you.
RobSmith
Banned
Working on cars would be pretty good. I realise that doing it every day might be a bit too much...especially on other peoples cars, but I work in a power station .. high risk..high dollars. I am close to retirement so I'm setting up myself to have a nice workshop and house to enjoy the rest of my life. I have built a few cars and made special ..one off stuff for them. So I plan to do custom mods for myself and a few friends.
Okay thank you all for your opinions. The restoration place I speak of does high end numbers matching (when possible) corvettes and other classic muscle cars. It is in houston so I doubt All the rich guys here will stop playing with their toys. I checked their portfolio and some nice Barrett Jackson pieces have sold for 100k. So I am going to give it a try.
jb3
Well-known member
everybody seems to be leaning towards bodywork in this thread and not the rest of the vehicle. personally, hell no would i ever work at an auto shop again doing general repair, certainly not at a flat rate shop. i spent about 5 years working in a truck shop, and after your 35th kingpin or broken spring with rusted out snow and ice covered fastner nightmare with the owner freaking out about his load being delivered on time, id take restoration every time.
first and foremost, the time estimate part is different. people have other daily drivers and expect to not see their car being restored for months.
general repair, they expect that car back 5 minutes after they get out, cause they need it. doubly so in a truck shop, where its often their livelyhood on hold while you struggle with something. no sir, sorry, we cannot replace the transmission you blew on your plow truck same day when you drop it off at 3pm. i never want to feel that feeling of dread where the customer is yelling, and you are outside in a puddle of freezing water with freezing rain beating on you, and you break off a glowplug in the head of an engine of a totally inacessible panel truck.
i followed the words said above, got a totally unrelated job, tinker on my own multi year projects, and get to be the customer seeking out the resto artist for things like bodywork. much much better situation
first and foremost, the time estimate part is different. people have other daily drivers and expect to not see their car being restored for months.
general repair, they expect that car back 5 minutes after they get out, cause they need it. doubly so in a truck shop, where its often their livelyhood on hold while you struggle with something. no sir, sorry, we cannot replace the transmission you blew on your plow truck same day when you drop it off at 3pm. i never want to feel that feeling of dread where the customer is yelling, and you are outside in a puddle of freezing water with freezing rain beating on you, and you break off a glowplug in the head of an engine of a totally inacessible panel truck.
i followed the words said above, got a totally unrelated job, tinker on my own multi year projects, and get to be the customer seeking out the resto artist for things like bodywork. much much better situation