Young mechanic looking to realise his dream - can you help?

[OllieJT]

Note: I know there is a topic just the same but I find myself in the same predicament...

My names Oliver Thomas. I live in Wilmslow, Manchester. Im 19 and about to leave college with an IMI level 3 in light vehicle diagnosis and repairs. Ever since I was a young boy, I've had an obsession with cars. Mainly the classics. While other lads are off drinking and chatting up girls, im the one reading about common faults to look out for on 60's beetles etc. I've got a book called ultimate classic cars... It may as well be my bible! I breathe, eat, sleep and do nothing but talk classic cars.

Im just gonna jump to the point here, I dream of a job where I restore classic cars. I know, given any chance, id grab it with both hands. Ive been all over the local area with my cv, offering free labour... Damn health and safety! As im coming to the end of my time in education, i feel ready to grab my spanner and enter the trade... I just need my chance and i personally promise any employer that takes a chance on me, i will do everything in my power to ensure it was the correct decision,

if anyone can point me in the right direction, id be more than grateful. Thank you for your time.

Oliver

[midgeman]

Hope you get somewhere with this, it's a dream of mine which I'll never see through but would love to make my hobby my work as well.

[n1cky]

you sound like me. i wanted to be a mechanic, and i looked everywhere for work. after allot of looking i decided to join the army as a mechanic. well, im not working on classic v-dubs or anything like that. but i do get to play with 90 tonnes of tank with a 26.4L twin turbo V12 daily

and almost every week i get some of the infantry boys asking me to work on there cars. its a nice little earner and all the equipment is supplied.

im (just turned) 21 and i now drive an audi a5 3.0tdi with pleanty of toys. its a good job and the money is good. pluss i get to do allot more than any "normal" mechanic

just a suggestion

[tapkaJohnD]

ollie,
You've been working hard to get yourself into the business! Perhaps you need to widen your sights to nationwide, and focus down on classics.
I would trawl the Classic car marque websites and magazines, looking for ads for the restorers that work on them. Then go to them, by appointment if possible and sell yourself to them. It'll need investment in magazines and travel, and in homework on that marque before you go, but will get you known in the business.

Best of luck!
JOhn

Edited by tapkaJohnD on Friday 22 February 12:01

[curlie467]

There are a couple of restorers on the A50 just outside knutsford so not far from you. Go and hang around and become a familiar face, take them some biccies and teabags etc and just clean up. Every little helps.

Trevor Farringtons it is called.

[OllieJT]

Cheers for all the advice. I have been doing alot of thinking about the army engineer... There's a recruitment place in Stockport so might pop in at somepoint and have a word. Thanks everyone!

[MrBrightSi]

Hey, good idea pal.

Im Simon from Nottinghamshire and my dream job is to service your wives sexually. It's my dream and i hope someone on here can help without watching.

On a serious note, good luck and hope it works out for you.

[super66]

Have your heard of these guys?
http://www.classic-cars-for-sale.com/about.html
I had some trimming done by them and they know what they are talking about. Local too, Other side of Macclesfield!

[crofty1984]

If you have space, restore a couple of cheap classics yourself. If I was looking to hire a mechanic, I'd be very impressed if someone came to interview with some photos of quality work.

[srob]

Might be worth a post on the UK motorsport page on here?

Many race teams 'hire' volunteers to help on race weekends. You may find you start off roughing up brake pads for hours on end (I did ) but it may be a way of making contacts, and gaining something for your CV. And a potential reference