Thread: My introduction and first question.

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I don't know how old you are, but many of us started out with models and drawings. I can tell you a few things that might get you started in a custom auto career.

I can understand what you want. I was much like you. I did my own cars first, then my friends started hiring me, then I did it as a part-time business until I had enough business to start doing it full-time. I will also tell you this: You will continue to improve all of your life, so the more involved you get, and the longer you work, the better you will be. Another tip is to never give up. I have had some really bad times as I learned about the paint business, but you cannot fail, unless you give up

This will take time. Whatever part of the automotive field you like the most, should be what you work on the hardest.

If you like artwork, you could learn to paint, or take some art classes and maybe some airbrush classes.

If you just like art, start doing some paintings of cars. Maybe car magazines or tattoo artists would be a place to sell designs.

If you like new car design, you would want to talk to the California school that trains most of the car designers for the American and foreign manufacturers. Maybe there are scholarships or loans available.

Practice, practice, practice. Each job you do will make you a little better.

You could build, restyle, or paint a car of your own. If that means getting a better job, begging a place to work on it, and being patient, then do whatever is necessary. If people like what you've done, they will hire you. That is how I, and many others got started.

If you want the most success, you will need to live where that success is. If you work as a craftsman, like I do, you will need to be near a lot of people. I live in a town of almost a million people, and I still don't have enough business when the economy is slow. If you want to be on TV, you will need to be in an area where that is possible, like California. If you want to work for a car manufacturer, you will need to live where they operate.

Seeing how dedicated you seem to be, I think you have a chance to succeed. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

It's not that no one wants to help you, but we often see questions like this from Stateside hopefuls, and usually have no answers for them either. It is not like we are tapped into Coddington, Foose, or even lesser known shops, and can provide a recommendation for you.

I would suggest you treat it like any other situation where you were seeking employment. Beat the bushes and make lots of calls and sending of resumes. If you are really serious, take in one of the large vendor shows and start asking questions.

For every shop there are 100 aspiring customizers who would love to go to work for them, especially the well known ones. You will undoubtedly have to start at ground zero and work your way up as your skills and education increase.

It may be that folks in other places think there is a vast number of these shops all over America, and that is simply not the case. There are a number of small, usually one or several person shops, that are scattered throughout the country, but they are generally not in a position to take on any member of the team who can not pull his or her own weight and contribute right from the start.


Good luck,

Don

no I didn't mean that noone helps me ir doesn't want to...I just asked for addresses or informations how I can contact those shops etc or better wehre I find them...I don't even look for a recommndation or something like that...only adresses and informations to find those "ground zero" shops where I could start a career...but though it will be so hard for me to find somethin' and be succesful I allready thank you for your help...

Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

I don't know how old you are, but many of us started out with models and drawings. I can tell you a few things that might get you started in a custom auto career.

I can understand what you want. I was much like you. I did my own cars first, then my friends started hiring me, then I did it as a part-time business until I had enough business to start doing it full-time. I will also tell you this: You will continue to improve all of your life, so the more involved you get, and the longer you work, the better you will be. Another tip is to never give up. I have had some really bad times as I learned about the paint business, but you cannot fail, unless you give up

This will take time. Whatever part of the automotive field you like the most, should be what you work on the hardest.

If you like artwork, you could learn to paint, or take some art classes and maybe some airbrush classes.

If you just like art, start doing some paintings of cars. Maybe car magazines or tattoo artists would be a place to sell designs.

If you like new car design, you would want to talk to the California school that trains most of the car designers for the American and foreign manufacturers. Maybe there are scholarships or loans available.

Practice, practice, practice. Each job you do will make you a little better.

You could build, restyle, or paint a car of your own. If that means getting a better job, begging a place to work on it, and being patient, then do whatever is necessary. If people like what you've done, they will hire you. That is how I, and many others got started.

If you want the most success, you will need to live where that success is. If you work as a craftsman, like I do, you will need to be near a lot of people. I live in a town of almost a million people, and I still don't have enough business when the economy is slow. If you want to be on TV, you will need to be in an area where that is possible, like California. If you want to work for a car manufacturer, you will need to live where they operate.

Seeing how dedicated you seem to be, I think you have a chance to succeed. Good luck.

I want to thank you, too for your helping and also understanding words. Because of Itoldyouso and You I see the whole thing in a different light but that shouldn't mean that I forget it from this moment...No! You saw it right that I am very dedicated with it because it's a big dream and I will achieve this aim someday and somehow. Now I know that it will get very hard for me to start something but with you two, I have some experts that can help or inform me a lot...thank you so far.

Hey folks!

It's been more than four years!! from now, that I started this thread looking for the right way. Thank you so much again for the replies and everything! When I finished school, I moved to Stuttgart (Germanys "Detroit") and worked for a well known Mercedes restorer and moved on to another Gullwing restorer. After nearly two years, I had to quit for some reasons and cause I wanted more. So now I work for Europes biggest classic-car-magazine "Oldtimer Markt" and its other magazines (Oldtimer Praxis, Abgefahren Magazine) as an editorial volunteer. Only one year left until I can work as an official editor. My dream came true guys and I hope that I can stay in contact with all of you and more regular than the last years. I'm sorry, that I forgot to write here, but as you can see, it happened a lot. Maybe there will be the chance that I can produce some articles about you and your cars and hopefully make it to the states next year and maybe get to know some of you.

Here are some impressions from my first year of working for the magazine:

First images are from my tour to Switzerland in september for a story about the old James Bond movie "Goldfinger". Where at the original road and other places where they filmed the movie. I drove the old Mustang convertible from our office to the Alpes. Was a great ride!








That was a story about the Lamborghini Miura. I was lucky enough to drive both Miuras on my own. ;-)




Last pictures are from a small meeting which took place in Stuttgart some weeks ago.

Forgot to post a new photo of me. It's from our actual story "100 years of Chevrolet"



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Welcome! Nice lookin diecast. I think we all can certainly appreciate the work into making 'little' look so real. I am a big collector of early diecast for over 35 years, mostly Dinky,Corgi,Spot-On and some odd ball stuff.
Brian