Restoration Aprentice

[SoCalBomb]

Okay here's the deal...

As many of you, I've always enjoyed cars... when I got my '69 280S I did my best to restore it mechanicly and cosmeticly. Unfortunatly, I had to sell my prescious W108, because my college student budget, couldn't handle the extra expence of owning such a car. Now I drive a souless '95 Honda Civic, which I can't complain about, except for the fact that it feels more like a rental than my own car.

Although I'm going to school towards a major in landscape architecture, I've always wanted to work on cars. Most specificly I've always wanted to do car restoration.

The Question:

Does anybody know who or how I can get in contact with someone for whom I could be an auto restoration aprentice in the So. California area. I really crave exposure in the feild. I don't care how dirty the work is, as long as it deals with restoring cosmeticly or mechanicly old cars (any make). I'm not looking for a job, just exposure and training, in return for my labor.

Any help or comment would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[300SDog]

Nobody will take you seriously if you offer to work for free..... and nobody will hire you if you dont have your own tools.

For entry level position - call yourself a 'dismantler' who wants to work for parts recycler..... someone who can strip resellable parts from otherwise wrecked cars. In very little time, you will learn the ropes and can find shops in phone book that even specialize in used MB parts. Then with luck, you might get connected to work on some restoration projects that you discover through the grape vine........ but nobody wants anybody leaving wrench marks on nuts 'n bolts or stripping threads. Basically, dismantling is easier entry into car restoration than reassembly.

My first Summer job at age 16 was waxing and prepping new cars at Fiat dealership...... In 6 weeks, I was also doing oil changes and replacing brake pads...... In 3 months, I bought an old Triumph Spitfire for dealership cost that somebody had traded on new car. Meanwhile mechanics were always askin me to help them with 2-man chores like pulling cylinder heads and dropping transmissions for clutch work. After you get hired, you can expect rapid advancement and increased responsibility in very short time. And yes, perks include discovery of bargain classic vehicle you can buy to replace the Honda.

Hell, you might even get into it on part-time day labor basis..... dismantling cars when they arrive at shops that specialize in recycling MB or foreign car parts in general. Like I said, use the phonebook to find them, then show up with all your tools and ask them about getting started.

But whats the matter with apprentice landscape archtect work.... too much pushing wheelbarrow, hauling railroad ties and moving boulders??

[SoCalBomb]

Well....the whole landscape architecture thing is geared towards design, not actually doing the physical work. Anyhow... I'll look into what you suggested, thanks for the reply.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Don't know if they would help non-students but you could try asking at your local community college or trade school.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[SoCalBomb]

i've thought about that, but liability is a huge issue in schools today. I remember once when I need a jump from a security guard at a school, and they needed me to sign a waiver as to relieve them from any responsibility. But I have thought about going to some J.C. just for auto classes, I guess that would be the easiest way to go.