Looking for a way to combine my job with my love of cars, any ideas?

[Expire]

Hey guys, I've been growing tired of working with nonprofits and database software and would like to open up my options.

By definition and degree, I am a graphic designer/ illustrator, by practice I am a front end web designer.

I'm wondering if there is anyway to merge my love for hotrods and this skill into one so I can generally have one very enjoyable career that I can make a living off of.

From the top of my head, what I've come up with is:
- work for a magazine (Mopar muscle, Mopar action, american hotrod, etc..)
- work for a hotrod / race shop as a graphic or web designer

Obviously I don't come from the business end of these type of shops or this industry so I just don't know what all could be entailed in the field, if anyone has some ideas, I'd greatly appreciate it!

 

[ILLDuster74]

Design web pages for a good shop, if you can do graphics consider doing renderings.

 

[TrailBeast]

Personally I think you would have to add an "s" to shop and magazine both to make any kind of a living from it.

I don't see either one needing a full time designer, but maybe some of the auction places would.
Possibly even some of the online automotive parts retailers.

 

[Expire]

Personally I think you would have to add an "s" to shop and magazine both to make any kind of a living from it.

I don't see either one needing a full time designer, but maybe some of the auction places would.
Possibly even some of the online automotive parts retailers.

Yeah, I'm kind of looking for a full time gig, freelance is never good for me.

I was thinking of trying to ride the fame of one of those Discovery shows like Vegas Rat Rod or Fast and Loud.

But I'm sure they already have a fully staffed team.

 

[Expire]

Someone mentioned the other day trying to find a place that will let me do web design full time and let me apprentice in some type of repair for free, like body work or paint

 

[TrailBeast]

Yeah, I'm kind of looking for a full time gig, freelance is never good for me.

I was thinking of trying to ride the fame of one of those Discovery shows like Vegas Rat Rod or Fast and Loud.

But I'm sure they already have a fully staffed team.

I'm sure they do at the moment also, but they got them from somewhere didn't they?

Someone mentioned the other day trying to find a place that will let me do web design full time and let me apprentice in some type of repair for free, like body work or paint

My first thought was paint, since you have some experience in design already.
Also, decent painters are not easy to find and make pretty good money.
Don't get me wrong as painting isn't all that easy, but it's a LOT less physical work than a lot of other things we do to pay the bills.
Body work would suck IMO, but painters don't generally do body work. (they just ***** about it)
I worked in the body and paint shop at a Ford dealership in CA and got some experience in it, but only do it for my own benefit.

My neighbor found out I have the tools and a mig welder so he always asks if I will do some work for him. (but I won't do it)
I offer to show him the basics, and even to loan him the tools but I have zero interest in actually doing it for him.

 

[Expire]

I'm sure they do at the moment also, but they got them from somewhere didn't they?



My first thought was paint, since you have some experience in design already.
Also, decent painters are not easy to find and make pretty good money.
Don't get me wrong as painting isn't all that easy, but it's a LOT less physical work than a lot of other things we do to pay the bills.

I guess I would have to get taught how to paint, but I do have a fine arts / illustration background aswell, so that should lend well with colors.. I'll have to look into it.

 

[slantsixdan]

My advice: be very careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. I figured out how to merge my love of cars with my skill and training as a writer to wind up with a career that keeps food in the fridge and a roof overhead. It seemed ideal for awhile, but in the long run it has cost me virtually all of my love of cars.

 

[TrailBeast]

My advice: be very careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. I figured out how to merge my love of cars with my skill and training as a writer to wind up with a career that keeps food in the fridge and a roof overhead. It seemed ideal for awhile, but in the long run it has cost me virtually all of my love of cars.

Yea, there's that.

In my case what I do for a living and the cars I enjoy don't have much to do with each other, but I do sometimes incorporate some bits from one into the other.
Like for example wireless internet, mapping and music touchscreen in a 42 year old Mopar.

 

[Expire]

My advice: be very careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. I figured out how to merge my love of cars with my skill and training as a writer to wind up with a career that keeps food in the fridge and a roof overhead. It seemed ideal for awhile, but in the long run it has cost me virtually all of my love of cars.

Very true, I suppose, perhaps thats how I feel now, maybe I just need a change of pace.

Either way, sent some resumes and portfolios to harris publications just as a way to put my foot in the door. Guess we'll see where we go from there..

 

[GeorgeH]

A guy that can design, airbrush, graphics/stencils can make a pretty good living, moreso in the bike market, race cars, lettering rigs, boats, etc. Just a thought if you have the art/design background.

 

[Expire]

A guy that can design, airbrush, graphics/stencils can make a pretty good living, moreso in the bike market, race cars, lettering rigs, boats, etc. Just a thought if you have the art/design background.

I've tried airbrushing, unfortunately it's not there more me, unless I can maybe rig up a laser sight... hmm

Back in highschool I had interest in doing autobody painting, maybe I should find a place that lets me pursue that on the side..

 

[GeorgeH]

I've tried airbrushing, unfortunately it's not there more me, unless I can maybe rig up a laser sight... hmm

Back in highschool I had interest in doing autobody painting, maybe I should find a place that lets me pursue that on the side..

Airbrushing has never been there for me either. I'm with the others on turned a hobby/love into a job. Have done paint/collision work my whole life. As a newbie into a shop evironment, most get to push an endless amount of sandpaper before a shop owner ever lets them get the chance to experiment with high dollar materials in a paint gun.

 

[Expire]

Airbrushing has never been there for me either. I'm with the others on turned a hobby/love into a job. Have done paint/collision work my whole life. As a newbie into a shop evironment, most get to push an endless amount of sandpaper before a shop owner ever lets them get the chance to experiment with high dollar materials in a paint gun.

I mean it makes sense, body prep is definitely part of the job. I guess I'll have to look into what's around locally

 

[GeorgeH]

Opps doubledup

 

[moparmat2000]

I did automotive mechanics for a living years ago, and must say that working on other peoples broken, dirty **** killed my love for cars. I went back to school for aviation maintenance, and do aircraft sheetmetal structural repair for a living. I like what i do, and it puts a roof over my head and pays the bills, and also affords me some extra scratch for my automotive pursuits. Oh and i enjoy working on cars again now that i dont mess with them all day long.

 

[Expire]

I did automotive mechanics for a living years ago, and must say that working on other peoples broken, dirty **** killed my love for cars. I went back to school for aviation maintenance, and do aircraft sheetmetal structural repair for a living. I like what i do, and it puts a roof over my head and pays the bills, and also affords me some extra scratch for my automotive pursuits. Oh and i enjoy working on cars again now that i dont mess with them all day long.

I could totally see where you're coming from. As a developer, I love working on my projects, when I have to dive into someone else's backward *** code, it's just a headache.

 

[lou3500]

I'm 56 and i am a self taught mechanic / builder and have played with race cars/hot rods/trucks n bikes all of my life. It was a dream of mine to have a shop and build cars/trucks/bikes [low dollar builds working mans cars] for us middle class guys who can't afford high end 50-100 k cars. I never did that but instead went into the Air Force and became an aircraft mechanic after i got out i got my certifications and worked commercial aircraft and stayed away from the automotive industry as a hobby i built my own cars and have realized that lots of guys i know who do build cars / trucks / bikes don't own any kind of custom vehicle because they have burnt out on them [from working around them day in and day out] Try designing or web site building and keep cars a hobby.

 

[barbee6043]

we can get burned out on things we love for sure.

loved quarter horses since a kid, self taught and learned back then watching those with talent. training for the public, putting up with spoiled wives, their snot nosed spoiled kids, wealthy check writers asking for the moon and waiting to stab ya in the back... ya can get burned out, and I did till I realized, just do my own thing and let others deal with those people! ha

yes sometimes we have to be careful what we ask for!?

 

[GeorgeH]

I did automotive mechanics for a living years ago, and must say that working on other peoples broken, dirty **** killed my love for cars. Oh and i enjoy working on cars again now that i dont mess with them all day long.

Agreed, I actually enjoy working on my duster now that I dont do bodywork for a living, and I don't miss the constant chemical warfare on the body. Other than a coat of paint on a dd here and there, it will be the first car I have put together for myself.

 

[ssba]

Some customers can take the joy out of their projects for themselves & you. Generally it will be the guys who cant afford to get their car into the condition they want or know little about their project to begin with.
Not all of them are bad though. Most folks are fun and are happy to have some help with the things they can't or don't wish to do themselves.
The trick is identifying which type of customer and job they are and only surround yourself with the enjoyable jobs.

 

[slantsixdan]

I don't miss the constant chemical warfare on the body.

That bears repeating. I have met a lot of body-and-paint workers over the years. Some of them have been outstandingly gifted, talented, and skillful. Some of them have been decent. Some of them have been average, and some should've probably picked a different line of work. But all of them have been at least 1/4° out of plumb* in one way or another. Even if the appropriate personal protective gear is always used correctly (that's a very big if), the chemicals are extremely nasty and they will seep into your body. The solvents involved are just as good at dissolving oil-based matter (fat) in your brain and nerves as they are at dissolving oil-based matter (grease or paint) on the shop floor.


*present company excepted, of course!

 

[lou3500]

That bears repeating. I have met a lot of body-and-paint workers over the years. Some of them have been outstandingly gifted, talented, and skillful. Some of them have been decent. Some of them have been average, and some should've probably picked a different line of work. But all of them have been at least 1/4° out of plumb* in one way or another. Even if the appropriate personal protective gear is always used correctly (that's a very big if), the chemicals are extremely nasty and they will seep into your body. The solvents involved are just as good at dissolving oil-based matter (fat) in your brain and nerves as they are at dissolving oil-based matter (grease or paint) on the shop floor.


*present company excepted, of course!

The booze and drugs don't help either Dan, not all of them but a good percentage of body men / painters are one or the other [or both] from my exp. that's why i learned to do my own metal fab and paint [i'm not a Chip Foose by any means] but i'm no worse than Econobake besides my cars are drivers not concourse show cars.

 

[66fyssh]

I have struggled with the same question each time I come up against a career search. I am currently in the career search after moving back to Georgia.

Each time I end up deciding to keep my hobby a hobby. I constantly itch to go to the garage and do something to my car. I even look forward to maintaining my daily drivers - changing oil, rotating tires and such. I don't want to jeopardize that.

It takes some deep soul searching to determine which is the best route for you. One suggestion is to write your own eulogy - what do you want your head stone to say about you...and pursue a job that will help you along that path.

 

[Abodybomber]

I did automotive mechanics for a living years ago, and must say that working on other peoples broken, dirty **** killed my love for cars. I went back to school for aviation maintenance, and do aircraft sheetmetal structural repair for a living. I like what i do, and it puts a roof over my head and pays the bills, and also affords me some extra scratch for my automotive pursuits. Oh and i enjoy working on cars again now that i dont mess with them all day long.

This,for me... I quit wrenching, did parts afterwards. The love of hot rodding came back,after the headaches of daily wrenching went away. Parts aren't a bad gig, avoid the big parts chains,find a NAPA franchise to work for...