You NEED One of these 5 Jobs to Get Into the Car World!

[@dubyatf3827]

A body shop is a great place to get started too. Sweeping/ cleaning up, sanding, actual body and sheet metal work, prepping cars for paint, taping off, cleaning spray guns and equipment and finally learning how to spray. Lots to learn and do! Hard work but it's very rewarding because most car folks don't know or do these skills on the regular. Really simple to "trade" skills with a machinist or transmission builder down the road too!!

[@jondahl9826]

Auto body apprentice is a good place for a young person to start. Our industry has been hurting for new blood for years. The big corporate shop i work for will even buy your first tool cart and basic tools. If you pay attention and try you can be a journeyman in 3 to 5 years making decent money and getting great discounts on parts and paint materials.

[@Chuckles1418]

The farm got me started as a kid- couldn’t get a tech out, had to sort it ourselves. Then after 25 years in a corporate gig my wife supported me in going part time to pick up two days a week as a trainee in a resto workshop. Sweeping floors and spinning spanners with a super experienced mechanic. Having the best time and my kids now have so many questions at dinner time. So, if you don’t make it as a car kid there are still opportunities later in life.

[@matthewmcallister8845]

Another decent first job is a parts store delivery driver. Get to spend the day driving and get to go to all the garages and interact with the mechanics and see what they are working on. You also get some knowledge of different car parts and you also get employee discount on parts. In my small town I also used to get sent to junk yards to pick and pull small parts for different shops from time to time. Met some good people and seen some cool cars doing that job.

[@andrewgarcia3136]

it's a cool job but in the end you'll just wish you were working for one of the shops

[@raynetorrin]

@@andrewgarcia3136 That's the point. You get to know the shops and then ask if they need any help. Even pushing a broom.

[@StevenCrowtown]

I've worked at LKQ for 8 years and the perks are part of the reason I've been there so long. Discounts on parts, used tires with very low miles, aftermarket stuff, and also dismantling cars knowing where modules and computers are inside them.

[@chuckmiller83]

I absolutely loved this segment. I have a 16 year old son that needs to watch this. I had the parts person job at O’Reilly’s and it was the best. Also made deliveries on occasion. I hope you keep making these little segment videos from time to time. They’re great!!

[@bubbacomputer]

Great advice Tony! The other advice is don't go into any of those jobs thinking they owe you something, lots of life lessons to be learned at every job you listed.

[@danmyers9372]

Amen. Entitlement thinking is destroying our beloved country.

[@lawrencedavid9768]

Yes, I’m old, 1978, my high school had a work program, get out early, go to work, 1st Job was so cool, I was the cool kid for the first time. Hired to work at the local Ford Dealership, washing the new cars for delivery, that turned into under coating, oil changes, parts, taking the new 1978 Ford Trucks to be inspected, ( Got busted by the owners son taking 1 off road), he was so cool, Good old days for sure.

[@oldsledpurgatory3595]

Another benefit of working at a dealership is access to the wholesale lot (if they have one). Saw a lot of cool cars get traded in and sold cheap during my time at Wiscasset Ford to other dealerships as well as dealership employees, my favorite being a factory 302 4-speed '73 Ford Maverick that I just barely missed out on.

[@justinwise6950]

I bought way too many cars off the wholesale lot, lol.

[@SweatyFatGuy]

I grew up on a farm, dad had me repacking wheel bearings when I was 7 when I wasn't driving tractors. Rebuilt my first Briggs & Stratton at 8, first V8 rebuild at 12, and bought my first car in 1982 at 13. It was a 1967 Cougar that I still have, 40 years later... My first tech job in 1987 was a machinist making aerospace parts. I learned a lot, micrometers, machining, attention to detail, fabrication, and more. Then I worked at a salvage yard, getting wrecks and theft recoveries running, do a compression test, then strip it completely apart, catalog everything, and put it away with a Hollander number on it. 80s cars were crap then too. Then I enlisted in late 1988, loaded cargo planes in the USAF, got to play in Germany and the desert, brought my 1979 WS6 4 speed Formula back from Germany where I bought it on base. I do not recommend that now though. Avoid the military at all costs, its not what it used to be. Still have that one too, its my street strip toy and might be getting a 6-71 on its E headed solid cam 461 stroker Pontiac next month. Between my enlistments I worked as a CNC machinist again, and started my repair shop on the side, and got a piece of paper from a VoTech that says "Yeah this dude knows whats up with cars yo!" Went back to the USAF in 2000, because NAFTA sent all the jobs and customer's jobs to Mexico. I never did retail or food service, all my jobs were tech oriented. Until 2008 I was an ASE master tech and master automotive machinist, mostly by doing it. I've been retired since 2005, my last deployment kinda broke me, so now I apply the wealth of vehicle knowledge to rebuild vintage muscle cars.. mainly GTOs and Firebirds. You could say I am heavy into Pontiac. Yeah the Pontiac community knows about me, I am the ethanol Qjet guy. I learned most of it by doing it, including body and paint. The 65 GTO was the first frame off I completed, its now one of my daily drivers, along with the 70 Cuda AAR clone. Now I do literally everything when I build a car, except I have someone else machine the engine parts. Those machines and tooling are too expensive for me to justify having them to build an engine every other year. I check the work though, and I have no problem massaging parts to make them fit... like the tunnel ram going on my latest Pontiac engine. I would be willing to teach kids how to do all of this, but most just want the car, not to know how to work on it. Instant gratification rather than delayed gratification.... I thrive on the latter and rarely experience the former. You are only too old to do the car thing when you kick your air addiction and are evicted from your meat suit.

[@Ozarkprepper643]

I also started driving tractors on the Ranch. And the hay hauling truck at age 8. Logged over a million miles with my CDL over the years. I've been a pilot since the early '70s. Have worked in the Aerospace industry. I've built 7 various style experimental aircraft. plus a rigid dirigible in the 80s. Still have my j3 Jr ultra light I built in the '80s. I also have a 3/4 scaled all composite P-51. It's powered by a supercharged LS3. Then there's the highly customized experimental bush plane It has a direct drive fuel injected 2300 type 1. 4.3 power ratio 5.7 Wing load

[@SweatyFatGuy]

@@Ozarkprepper643 I missed out on the best part of aviation, by the time I had any money even the Cessna 140 I first flew in was way out of my price range. I've been considering a half to 3/4 scale P51 with LS power, but since I couldn't afford the airplanes I got big into cars. Then two divorces later and I completely gave up on even getting my private license. Not sure I can pass the physical anyway after the way the USAF left me. Dream planes for me are J3, a clipped wing would be cool but not required, P40 E or N, everyone likes the F4U, a P38, P51, and then the fast stuff like a Mig21, T38, ot an L39. Technically I can afford some of the L39s out there, but only to buy one.. Feeding it and maintaining it is a bit out of my scope... Not back to school for A/P just to try to own a jet. The USAF cured me of ever wanting to go to another airshow. After working on every C141 and C5 in the inventory in 1990-91, god knows how many C130s and C17s, then all the commercial planes like 747s and DC10 cargo birds, with F15, F16, A10, F117, and even U2s taking off all the time, the only thing that gets me going is the old stuff. Watching the SR71 take off was fun though, saw one of them leave Paris in 1989. Got a cool pic of my daughters under the nose of a Blue Angels F18 when they were little, I got permission to take the ex and the kids out on the ramp the night before the 2000 airshow since I worked out there every day. Met some Navy crew chiefs with the BA. I don't like the crowds and seeing big gray airplanes feels a lot like work to me.. lol. Now if I can go fly around in a prop fighter, or do the engineer seat thing in a bomber, then that would be cool... but nobody is offering to take this old crippled two war vet up in the air. So I build hotrods.

[@1967davethewave]

My first job was working the full service pumps at a gas station at age 16. This is where I learned to use a tire machine. I wanted to be a mechanic so bad that I would trade shifts with an older kid (17) on Friday and Saturday nights so he got off at 9 and I worked until the graveyard guy would come in at midnight with the hopes that a car would come in needing mechanical repairs. We were right off the hiway so I got to do a lot of water pumps, alternators, belts and ignition repairs. I thought I was a "Real" mechanic. Today, 36 years later, I am a fleet mechanic for a utility company and make 6 figures with full benefits. And I have a shop full of cool muscle cars.

[@georgewimme4675]

Started as a shop hand in the youth apprenticeship and started slinging tires after that. Then joined the Marine Corps at 18. Spent 4 years in California in hod rod heaven learning from those guys. Then went to school for 4 years learning auto and diesel. And now I work as a tech at a custom exhaust shop where we do literally everything from oil changes to diagnostic work. Amazing where 13 years takes a guy so far

[@bean-matic9322]

My first job was at a local car shop that had 2, sometimes 3 other guys working there. I got the job during the summer of freshman year at the age of 15 by just walking in one day and asking for a job. They told me to come in the following Monday. Prior to this I knew not a single thing about cars. I had never seen the inside of the hood, under a car, or a car without a tire to say the least. First job they had me do was to replace a battery on one of the trucks sitting outside. They handed me some tools, pointed towards the truck, and left me to fend for myself. I spent the first 10 minutes trying to open the hood, and eventually got it. After that I scrambled to find the battery and about 30 minutes later I had gotten the battery out, through trial and error I suppose. I put it back in, and slowly through out the days I would learn more and more. (I got paid $100 dollars a week for the first two weeks; roughly $2 dollars an hour considering I was working 40 hour weeks). Eventually I would learn more and more such as brakes, radiators alternators, etc. Now I’m 17 years old still working at the shop and I can tackle a variety of jobs such as transmission, taking out the engine, head gaskets, engine rebuilds, and more. For anyone who is interested in doing this, just try it. Despite only being paid $8 an hour I enjoy my job and can’t wait to see where it takes me.

[@Kendell_Bidwell]

100% right about some people working at parts counters not knowing a thing about cars!

[@CarsandCats]

Being in the automotive field my entire life (since the 80's) allowed me to build my hot rods for pennies on the dollar. The best was working for body shops and learning how to do body & paint. I also sold parts and got wholesale pricing on ANYTHING I wanted from any supplier. This REALLY helped and having everything shipped to work (like tires and wheels) and having someone mount them while I worked was awesome. I recommend you young guys get into a new car dealership so you can get the discounts. Learn as much as you can and switch departments to learn knew things.

[@SweatyFatGuy]

Thats a good idea too, when I was working as a CNC machinist for Dana making Perfect Circle piston rings, we got parts from NAPA below jobber price. I built a Pontiac 455 with cast pistons for $1800, and it pushed my 4100lb 70 GTO into the mid 12s with a 2.93 gear, 1900 stall, on 87 octane. It made the local chevy guys cry as it would gap them 300ft out. The Mustang kids didn't even want to try it. Being able to do literally everything on my vehicles means I can afford to do a lot more to them. The frame off rebuild of my 65 GTO, which wasn't even a good parts car as it was stripped and the pinch welds rusted around the glass so everything under the roof was rusted bad, cost me about $12k to make it into a driver. Now it has a healthy 455 running on E85 with a FiTech EFI on it, and the Tremec 5 speed is under the bench waiting for me to get my manual trans parts from the farm. Currently its breaking automatics, so the 5 speed will get driven nicely, no power shifting.. A Th400 would work, but there is a driveshaft problem, meaning nobody around here does driveshaft work. Thats one thing I can do, but cannot balance them so they usually shake. I build crazy stuff for dirt cheap that other people could never afford taking it around to shops to have it all done. It boggles my mind how people spend $6k+ to build a stock Pontiac, then I remember that they get parts from the local stores and have someone else do everything including assembling it and choosing parts. What they do for $6k I can do for less than $2500... and mine will be faster. Learning body and paint is a VERY good idea, even if you want a beater looking ride like the 68 LeMans I am doing right now on my channel.

[@CarsandCats]

@@SweatyFatGuy I do all of my own work now and was able to build a blower car cheaper than you can possibly imagine. If I had to pay someone to work on my car, I would not even be in this hobby.

[@SweatyFatGuy]

@@CarsandCats for most of my life, if I had to pay someone to work on my car, I would have been walking. Currently have a manifold and drive on order to put a 6-71 on one of my Pontiac 455s or stroked 400s.. it could also go on the 99% aftermarket 505 since its built to handle 20-25psi, so 7 to 15 from a roots should be real easy to do. That 505 is not exactly cheap, because I wanted to be able to do anything I wanted to it and have it survive for years, but the cost would be double if I had a shop do it all for me. The biggest money saving knowledge you can get are rebuilding transmissions and EFI tuning, body work is up there too, but that is a skill as well as an art form so its very easy to produce bad body work.. Just look at any of my rides and you will see bad body work in action.. lol. I take good pics of them so you can't see the horrors though..

[@CarsandCats]

@@SweatyFatGuy I heard that! I had to learn how to build transmissions after breaking 3 of them. Now the one that I built is holding up. Always remember: Nobody cares as much about your stuff as you do.

[@SweatyFatGuy]

@@CarsandCats heh... nobody works for me as cheap as I do either.

[@saturnfivehynrgrc581]

Restaurant wouldn't have guessed that one. Like button energized.

[@monkeyfoodgarden]

Worked the back counter at a Dodge dealer. Made great money but the hours sucked!!!! Great video.

[@layzboy2545]

Automotive photographer right here!!

[@StayTunedTA]

Awesome! How did you get started?

[@layzboy2545]

@@StayTunedTA Started shooting cars at car shows for fun. Been working at a company that shoots cars for dealerships for the last 5 years

[@jesseshelby4383]

The path that is required to be a legit mechanic now is so different from the past. It used to be carbs and screwdrivers,now it's computers and electronics. I respect both sides of the coin but I'm still partial to the old school 💪💪💪

[@StayTunedTA]

Yeah, both are cool. Today, I think you need to know a bit of both.

[@jesseshelby4383]

@@StayTunedTA indeed👍

[@mrdanomac7937]

Hey Tony, I worked in a restaurant as a student. It taught me all sorts of life lessons that you mentioned a couple times. However, it also taught me: -Working under pressure -How be be organized -How to follow a schedule (you need to have things ready at the same time) -How to deal with annoying coworkers -Eventually, how to make food Some of these are useful when working on cars but holy heck was it useful elsewhere too. None of my friends really cook, but I'm not scared to make myself a meal as an example. Being organized is super helpful when working on cars, I doubt I'd have been able to rebuild an engine in my carport without that skill! Although I still manage to put a tool down and forget where I left it. I think I inherited that from the bloodline. 😂

[@robertrusso877]

Great video Tony. I worked in the kitchen at a local restaurant when I was in high school putting away $$ for my ‘65 impala. And you’re right, being in the kitchen was way more fun and you didn’t have to depend on tips. Can’t believe Havana is still in New Hope. Haven’t been there in years … you may have served me!

[@E.T.GARAGE]

Way back around 1976 I worked part time at Goodyear tire changer, oil changes , shocks and learned a lot.

[@evilmustache]

I did 1,4, and 5 as a kid. Also was a car rental "lot boy". Good list.

[@TheBrokenLife]

I believe I'd pass on 1 and 5 and substitute truck and heavy equipment shops in their place. Bigger equipment is generally better to work on, labor rates are astronomical, and I'd bet almost no young guys just walk in off the street wanting to work on an excavator or dump truck. Most of those dudes also have some sort of side hustle (so you can probably moonlight with them, for cash, once they trust you) and at least half of them have a hot rod of some kind.

[@zman7953]

As a kid did pizza delivery and used all my spare time to work on my 72 Demon. The knowledge I got from others was the best to play car till now. Cheers brother.

[@davidsawyer1599]

every spring break the local Junior High would take a trip to Washington DC. I had to pay my way of course, Duh! Washed dishes in a Chinese restaurant. They would feed the staff. Every night after work riding my bike home the free meal would exit! Once I had enough money I never went back. Used to be full service gas stations. 4 cars all at once check the fuilds. Wash the windows and check the air pressure in the tires. That all had to be done before the cars were filled or what ever amount. This was the job after the Chinese place. Sunoco 260. 103 leaded octane Baby. All the hot rods stopped in. Sometimes multiple times in one day. That job allowed me to buy a 1971 Duster 340.

[@concretecars]

I pour Concrete for a living and part out Mustangs. Learning to use your hands are a skill that can benefit you for the rest of your life.

[@mlivshiz]

I did #3 and #2. Also worked as a detailer and an oil change guy. All great experiences and fond memories. Peak was being an apprentice at a Porsche dealership. Driving a 996 at age 17 blew my mind.

[@andrewtranter3177]

Always been a hands on type of guy, started out doing body work, went into construction for a couple years, got out of that and into yellow iron. Got started at a contractor company being a parts buyer, to shop helper, to field helper, to running my own service truck, and I'm only 26. I was always into cars, bikes, off roading, never in a million years did I think I would be a equipment mechanic. Just bust ass, pay attention, and be eager to learn, and that will get you a long way in whatever you do

[@karriefalon7779]

Loved it tony awesome talk. My very first job was working in a Factory building Heavy Tillage equipement. I done every thing from sweeping floors to cleaning washroom, and putting away parts ect ect. 11 years later, leaving the company i was top shop floor Manager/foreman. In the 11 years i was the only employee they kept durring employee trimming, employee turn over ect ect. It was because i never missed a day, and done what was asked of me, and my ability to learn every last asspect to building the machines we built, from running a broom to a metal lathe, a milling machine, welding, sand blasting and painting, making specific parts with huge huge hydralic presses and iron workers, driving semi to haul equipement to costumers, running forklifts loading trucks, litterly doing any job that was required of me. Best of the worst, to worst to best. With life changes and things happening I saddly parted company on the greatest terms ever. so much so when i was done i collected a wage for 1.4 years after in back pay for the over time i worked and banked.

[@earlarthur9378]

T/A you are absolutely right about making connections and friends in the car business. My first car job was working in a Plymouth/Dodge & Toyota Dealership. Worked automotive for 25+ years. Discounts and bartering for damn near everything I got automotive. The best friendships to make were at the local wrecking yards. When I got out of the car business to take a technical job I moved 2,000 miles away following the money. Now I have to pay FULL RIP on car parts, which totally sucks balls LOL...

[@tonymickens8803]

I started at a Texaco gas station at 12 in the late 60's to late 70's here in Detroit, they were All Full Service and did Everything from tires to Engines and Transmissions, Learned a HELLUVA Lot!

[@trentdawg2832]

I was an auto detail at the car wash…..days where I didn’t get to detail cars the older guys with families would let me work the front and I’d get to bring home around $50/$75 dollars a day in all ones as tip money which was alot 25 years ago…….and I got to drive and detail just about every different car you could think of, the Chp would bring there ls1 Camaro in to get washed every week and everyone would wanna run to that one and prep it so we can lite up the tires on the metal plates…

[@paulsmith9341]

I got a job at 16 at a mail order/ tire chain around D.C in 1971. I learned how to drive a stick in a Datsun pickup. Learned everything about tires, went to a couple of tire mfg in Pennsylvania, sold Momo, Koni, recaro, etc. It shaped my auto scene !

[@joshbrekke6374]

Started at Amelube with my bro and his buddies (oil change place), then delivery driver at Pizza Hut with my 1979 Volare 2dr. Hit a parke 1989 escort GT digging for my delivery money (oops). Didn’t hurt my Plymouth. Then “Rapid” Oil Change around 1992/3. Now a CNC Machinist at QA1, yes many perks the engineering department has bestowed upon my 1964 Pontiac Tempest and, 1/2 price everything we sell, 😉!! Great gig, now if I can get the honey do list done so I can work on my car again soon. As I get older time to work on it is the hardest thing now. Wife, 4 kids, house & many in need of repairs. 😝. Great Video, awesome topics and humor as always!! Thanks Tony!!!

[@bocajwest]

Best part about delivery driver is you can get away with almost anything with that light up topper on the car. Had a lot of fun blasting around town in my little svt focus back in the day delivering pizzas

[@jakesimpson64]

Another benefit of restaurant work is the mise en place mindset. Crazy how much that carries over everywhere else. Learning how to cook a thing or two also doesn't hurt the dating scene either. Restaurants are a great gig

[@oldninjarider]

You have to start somewhere. I was working as a computer operator back in my high school days for a small services company. I was into cars, Datsuns, VWs etc. The owner found out and then asked me over to his place, he had a couple of Mazeratis, a Mercedes 600 limo, and a couple of jags. I wound up doing tune-ups and general maintenance on the cars for him for extra pay. My first experience synchronizing carbs and dealing with finicky car owners!

[@ni_wink84]

Best job in the car industry I had was at a shop that built race engines. I did tear down and clean up, learned A TON, got deals, and got to meet people high up in the industry namely your buddy frieburger circa 2003

[@bren-xmotorsports55]

I was a valet at a private country club. Being 18 and driving everything from Aston Martin's to Porsche's was awesome

[@marksearcy9708]

Best job I had working in Auto machine shop. I loved it so much I open one of my own later in life.

[@N2PAINT]

Parts counterman is basically what I've been doing since around 1994ish. Started as a delivery driver at a Honda dealership, then counterman. Mixture of dealership, aftermarket and rv parts is what I've been doing, and merged into a couple mechanic jobs and auto painting. Definitely a job for anyone young looking to get into the automotive world.

[@thenomad01]

Yep, shop hand was great experience! Sooo many stories!

[@AnonymousEliteZero]

I refer to my pizza delivery days as Urban Rally practice, fixing junk cars with parts from junk yards. Good times!

[@bigbryon87]

I have done 2,3 and 4. I sale parts at a local dealership for years and one of the best things about working there is I get to use the temp controlled shop any time I want and I have my project car parked out back and nobody cares.

[@ianschmitt587]

Valet! You get that restaurant schedule and money and you get to drive all sorts of cars, not to mention working outside on your feet!

[@markh4763]

I started in the Army working on everything from Jeeps to Tanks - after I got out I went to Arizona Automotive Institute. Wound up fixing and making custom Auto AC systems for a company called ARA.

[@fossilfuelenthusiast]

I have loved all of these so far but was a little skeptical about this one. I was wrong to be skeptical, you have knocked it out the park again. Great work Tony.

[@mobiledevto]

'Spend as little time at work so you can spend as much time working on your car'. THIS man is my spirit animal!

[@bernardowens1648]

I did food/Pizza Delivery in the early 90s in a small town in the South. Small town Southerners are the worst tippers. Had a great time in my 4cyl 85' Mustang but didn't make any money. My best Automotive job was at an Auto Auction. I learned alot about cars to include becoming a Licensed Damage Vehicle assessor, not to mention being able to drive just about any type of car to include the occasional Supercar.

[@natefrechmann8336]

I love being a diehard mopar guy and working at a dodge dealership and I’m great full to have a bunch or older guys that know mopars in and out and they help me. Got a never used, all in tact and in the box purple cam for 20 bucks. All the guys at my work love that I’m 1& with a big block swapped 64 barracuda

[@bjsteg79]

Go creative! Literally creative, art, art skills. Get a gig going doing contract work, build up a client base. Parallel your skills into the automotive industry, make connections, and you'll get discounts. Worked a parts counter, tire shop from tech to manager, sold cars, delivered pizzas...etc. Then I started laying out vinyl graphics for a local shop and converted them to vector file for their plotter & cutter. I made A TON for a 19 yr old working 20-30 hrs a week (40k-50k a yr). Got parts on discount, met a lot of great people.

[@camarosrus3708]

I did all of your list except the parts counter. One other difference was gas stations when I grew up were service stations. And the one behind my grandparents had a dirt track race car. The noise that came from their garage sucked us in. My older brother and I watched as they worked on it, and eventually became go-fers for the team. I learned a lot about small block Chevys, and at age 10 rebuilt a 283, given to us by our uncle, alongside my 15 year old brother. Amazingly it ran,and we put in the first car my brother owned. A 63 Belaire two door post. We both worked there eventually, and learned a lot, as they did serious repair work including engine and trans overhaul.

[@justinwise6950]

I loved working at the tire shop. Even when I became a dealer tech I still loved doing tires. They payed decently and I could do them pretty quick.

[@garysacry5969]

Right on for trying to instill a work ethic for some of the youth of America! You’re truly an inspiration!!

[@allcoupedup]

Thanks Tony. Great advice. 47 year old over here wishing I had done my accredited education when it comes to cars. I can pretty much do anything on a car. I honestly wish I was getting paid for it because, let's face it, cars don't talk back.

[@justinwise6950]

You aren't missing much. Cars don't talk back but everyone else in the car industry does. I spent 11 years total in dealerships since 1994 and it was pretty fun to start but the last few years(I got out in 2014) were just miserable. They kept adding more hoops to get paid and paying less when you jumped through them.

[@lancoshotrodgarage2858]

I've been a "Parts Specialist" (that's my title) at a GM dealership for 15 years. I make a decent living and have several projects in the works and a large home shop.

[@billtrimble4882]

I worked at full service gas station in Jersey. I pumped gas, changed tires, oil changes and help with other stuff that the boss needed done. To bad we have more full service stations anymore.

[@mikefromnebraska]

Good show, Jiffy Lube early 90’s worked with car guys and musicians. Back when the company wasn’t what it is today.

[@americanfamiliesfirst2790]

Man, that cutlass looks so good behind you! I also have a 71 cutlass "s". Same color and stripes, straight body but clear coat is flaking. It's a A/C car with 455/th400 from the factory. Just wanted to let you know, you have inspired me to start working on mine again. So thanks so much.

[@chaddaley739]

So, so agree with the number one job. Think every kid should start out in the restaurant atmosphere

[@familytruckster2009]

Other perk of some of the shop jobs were free used tires. I'd burn through so many tires in HS in my $100 foxbody.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

I worked at the local Carquest from 16-18 and cooked in restaurants and a comedy club from 18-23 and can confirm, they were good gigs for a car guy in the making. At 24, I got into the electrical apprenticeship (IBEW local 317), which is a damn fine job for a car guy too.

[@chadmurrow9605]

That is hilarious I blew up reverse in my 96 GTI doing reverse donuts in an iced over church parking lot! Definitely had to be mindful of parking.

[@001slick001]

That clip of the parts counter guy was hilarious! I was thinking what he was saying when I worked at the auto parts stores.

[@shanestrains2849]

That carquest parts counter guy video is one of my favorite job demo type things, hilarious

[@iconiccreations2492]

I didn't know that you have roots in VW's! My first car was a 1988 VW Jetta. In 1997 I bought a 90 G60 Corrado (that I still own) and 4 years ago I picked up a 92 VR6 Corrado.

[@tinyskustoms]

I worked as a PDI guy at a local chevy dealership, and at night I was a dish washer at a local mexican food restaurant. . . But my FIRST "industry" job was as a counter guy at CHECKER auto parts .. and now, Ive dated myself. haha! great video, good advice.

[@jamesa2961]

Lol I bought a 87 camry for a 6 pack a beer. No reverse no 2nd gear . Got me to a job to get me some money to buy a better car. First jobs as a diesel mechanic. Doing tire swaps on semi trucks and trailer brakes .

[@StayTunedTA]

Drove my first one with a piston ring shoved into the side of a piston for probably 1000 miles, they rarely die completely!

[@jamesa2961]

I waited for people not to look when leaven the bar. Open the door and used my foot to back out of parking spots lmfao

[@Woahitsjurb]

You totally missed the best perk about working at a tire shop as a kid, the free or cheap used tires!

[@jesseshelby4383]

Omg I worked at a tire shop and I was constantly dragging home horrible tires cause they were free 😂😂

[@kennethgamble5498]

Spent 10 years in parts before swapping careers completely and I miss the discounts. But now I have multiple 80s cars and more flexibility to work on them.

[@johnsantiago2272]

Started with yard work, delivering newspapers, moved to prepping new cars for a Rambler dealer. Water sanding cars for paint work in a BodyShop. The rest is history. Retired now, fat, grey, not bald, and happy.

[@bobwise1347]

that poncho in the back is going to be awesome.

[@joshuagibson2520]

So right about the $20 burger joint jobs. Good money, wild people, good parties, great times.

[@CzechSixTv]

Two things: 1) If you're a kid that's into cars, find out if there is a vocational HS in your area with a good auto program. Sadly there are less of them these days though. 2) Get a job as a shop hand even if it's at some little mom & pop gas station garage. Between those two things you can build a solid foundation. The summer after freshman year I got a job as a shop hand at just such a place through one of my HS auto shop teachers. I was there 2 weeks before a customer came in with a flat that he wanted patched and I told the owner I'd take care of it so he could finish the brake job he was on. By the end of the summer I was doing everything from tune-ups to ball joints and my pay more than doubled. When sophomore year started I worked at that same shop after school. By the age of fifteen I bought my '69 Nova and had enough money left over for a rebuildable 327 on top of what I had spent on tools. By the time I got my license(17 in NJ then) I had a serious tool collection, the Nova's drivetrain and suspension were completely rebuilt and the car got repainted. Senior year I(and a teammate) won states and went to the nationals(placed 8th) in the Ford/AAA student auto skills competition. I graduated HS with multiple job offers from dealerships and other shops but ended up wasting a year at Nashville auto/diesel.

[@rickmiller1425]

I have had three of the five. What you said about parts is only partially true. In the automotive world you do get lower pay and barely skilled people at the chains but where I am the pay can be quite good. I started in auto parts then moved to equipment dealers and now I'm at a DOE site doing parts at the fleet maintenance shop making real good money. It may not take a ton of skill but it does take a lot on knowledge and experience to be a good parts person.

[@frjhracing]

mechanical engineer right out of school, but the student loans still cut into car parts and such....live for the weekend as they say. First job was dominoes delivery, lots of wear and tear - so you get to learn maintenance!

[@StayTunedTA]

Yes, that works!

[@chuckdock4436]

IT is the place! Big bucks, super computer literate and can learn to tune easily! Though, for me, I had 20 plus years doing old school hot rodding before IT so it was even better..but yea, big bucks rule. With that you can by a sweet garage with lift, sweet classic car, then ls swap it! Thats how it went for me!

[@jholthenrichs]

Yo Tony. Grew up in Yardley. Live in Richboro. Go to Havana's often! Nick D'Alessio's dad lives next door to me. Love your gigs. Stop over some day and beat on my 12 second Riviera!

[@justinwise6950]

One of my first jobs was a lot attendant at the local Ford dealership. I honed my manual transmission skills there, lol. It was great, I got to wash and drive everything. I also learned a few things from the technicians, except I didn't listen to "don't become a tech"

[@tylervandegrift8875]

I can't believe you and Forsberg worked at Havana! It's pretty cool to hear how local you are to the area I grew up in

[@macsignals]

Can confirm, working in New Hope for the tourist railroad, that the burger at Havana is still awesome.

[@StayTunedTA]

Good to know! I will have to chomp down on one soon.

[@jasonbirch1182]

Delivered pizza forever. Actually made decent money. I still do on some Friday nights. Delivering is also a great shakedown for your drift/race car.

[@Ozarkprepper643]

First driving job started at 8 years old. I operated the 58 Ford flatbed while my brothers stacked hay. A whole dollar from them for a day's work .lol this was in the '60 in the summer they'd haul hay day and make $20-30 It was enough for them to build their hot rods. In High School they blew the engine in the truck and for a month every Friday night they pull the engine out of the old Coupe put it in the truck haul hay, then put it back in the the coupe Sunday evening to Drive too school. At 18 I worked full-time at a tire shop as my second job. It was a small shop and the owner didn't mind us working on our own projects if there was no business. Was an excellent opportunity with resources and a knowledgeable Gearhead. Half my life has been spent behind a wheel or yolk of some type machine. I worked at a fleet Maintenance and repair Shop for a construction company ( 3 actually) with an average of 180 trucks and as many generator, air compressor trailers. As far as working for someone else that was one of the coolest jobs. Doing everything from oil changes to fabrication. And the owners were gracious enough to let us work on our own Vehicles after hours. I've done many Fantastic things and driven many cool things but that was the only time I had the opportunity to drive a fully restored 55 Vet and a 56 T bird. That's also when I realized when someone knows what they're doing, lol it takes no time. One of the mechanics I worked with pulled his 75 Toyota pickup over the car lift. 10 minutes later his transmission was on the table half an hour later it was back in his truck after replacing a broken 3rd gear. 😳 In the 80s I had the opportunity to race drag boats and compute at Tractor Pulls on somebody else's dollar. My own dollar was spent on drag racing, desert racing, mud bogging, rock crawling, air racing and StOL competition.

[@_________Eh.Sun______2020]

dayumm.. this brought back so much memoriez lol nice touch on the fLare part aLso gLad you didn't mention truck driving

[@esp27541]

I would say to consider working on ships. If lucky enough, can get well paid, good time home and if working in the engineering department can give you plenty of skills and knowledge, like welding, electricity, engine rebuild and repair, A/C, etc

[@markcole6475]

My wife and I own a restaurant and that’s exactly how it is! Problem in our town there’s not that many kids now days that are car enthusiasts……most want to sit in their butts and play video games!

[@mattfarahsmillionmilelexus]

I had a bunch of jobs as a young car guy and into early adulthood, and thinking back, every single one of those places except for one is closed down and long gone. The one that is still going, (under different management) a dental lab.

[@Bowmanicity]

You forgot a couple options, detailing cars for a dealership pays well and selling cars pays even better.

[@ianfairbanks1318]

Love the vid. Editing reminds me of Hoonigan vids, when those guys weren't has beens.

[@towman2068]

My suggestion to get into the car world is being a tow truck driver been doing it for 17 years have access to a lot of parts lot of mechanic shops discounted parts and all kinds of cars Look into that

[@susanhenderson2322]

My daughter's were both pizza delivery drivers, made good money in tips specially on Fridays an Saturday nights

[@vettekid3326]

Back when I was a high school kid in the 1970's it was still before self service gas stations so most were still full service with a couple of bays. You would start out pumping gas and a lot of times the boss would then have you do lube jobs and go from there to brake jobs and tune ups if you had some ability. And of course if the shop wasn't too busy you could work on your own stuff.

[@stephenhodge6441]

Where was this video when I was growing up? Yet I did do the #1 job. I worked at a Texas roadhouse.

[@scott3260]

You forgot a great "car kid" job - substitute teacher (In most districts you just need a bachelor's degree) or teacher. You have extra extra time off to wrench and drive, connections with auto shop and welding teachers, and you may have to put in extra time for money, the schools I've worked in offered opportunities for extra money (Supervision, working athletic events, covering extra classes, assistant coach) and the best - 6/5 teaching!!!

[@christophercrowley6707]

almost Deja vu list of youth jobs. pizza delivery, parts chaser for a automotive/race shop, specialty car part retailer, racing tire company, and then military boat & helicopter mechanic

[@19504x4]

The best advice I can give is don't let your job and your hobby be the same thing, you'll get burned out. Work on something similar thats is mechanical to learn and keep skills up.

[@adaptiveautoworks8336]

I would have to put parts counter up higher if it's for a store. If you know what a car is you can become friends with the shops. Then you get parts at cost and the ability to use the lifts at the shops you are cool with. Built many cars that way. Pay and walk-in customers suck. But it saved alot of money.

[@MrAnimalsrtasty1]

Solid advice Tony!

[@bbb462cid]

All I did was buy a 20 year old car in '89 that needed everything and I couldn't afford to pay abybody to do anything. I owned it until two years ago and now I'm looking at mid-year Sting Rays. You don't need some crappy job to get into the car world. Buy a car, buy the actory assembly and chassis manuals, get the parts books and tools and get going. All you have to do is live breath eat and sleep it. If that seems like too much money and work well...maybe old cars ain't for you. Thinking old cars are cool is great, but you need some dedication.