# When your "old school" mechanic retires **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [September 22, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288 "2026-09-22T16:18:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/1 "2026-09-22T16:18:32Z")
… the result can be catastrophic. > **[Classic Car Museum Closing Because Nobody Can Work on Carburetors Anymore....](https://www.thedrive.com/news/classic-car-museum-closing-because-nobody-can-work-on-carburetors-anymore-now-the-collections-for-sale)** > > The in-house mechanic at this Ohio auto museum is retiring—and the place can't run without him. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/2 "2026-09-22T17:14:52Z")
Interesting part about working on old cars versus newer cars. Might be easier to work on but gotta have the knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/3 "2026-09-22T17:38:07Z")
There are places that teach breaker points and carb tuning… > **[RevsEd @ Revs Institute - It all starts under the hood.](https://revsed.revsinstitute.org/)** > > RevsEd opens the doors to a dynamic educational journey where the art of working on cars comes to life. McPherson College does as well… > **[Auto Restoration](https://www.mcpherson.edu/programs/auto-restoration/)** > > Contemporary technology meets traditional craftsmanship. Our bachelor’s degree in restoration technology is the only of its kind in the nation. From the early 1900’s horseless carriages up through the muscle car era, we work on a wide range of... If a museum with a captured collection of cars can’t find a mechanic, how hard do you think it is for the casual enthusiast or collector to find people to work on older cars. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/4 "2026-09-22T19:20:53Z")
Sounds like someone was just looking for an excuse to close down… ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/5 "2026-09-22T20:07:11Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > just looking for an excuse to close down… Yeah, it does seem that way, Dave. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 8:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/6 "2026-09-22T20:32:49Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > Sounds like someone was just looking for an excuse to close down… Yes, that is also a possible scenario here. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/7 "2026-09-22T20:36:20Z")
I agree that Snook wants to move on. Nice group of cars at auction though. Six days left to bid. Tick tock! > **[Snook's Dream Cars | Hagerty Marketplace](https://www.hagerty.com/marketplace/collections/snooks-dream-cars)** > > Browse classic and exotic cars on Hagerty Marketplace and start the buying process today! Find the best collection cars for sale near you now. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/8 "2026-09-23T01:02:28Z")
There are some cheap, unique, cars that would be fun to own and drive to cars and coffee. A '33 Caddy coupe for $21K? Or a '41 Pontiac Eight Streamliner for $17K? Or '64 Jaguar Mark II for $18K? All would turn heads at any cruise-in or C&C. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 11:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/9 "2026-09-23T11:49:26Z")
For anyome thinking of bidding on the TD- make sure you do not have big feet. I has a friend who restored one and he offered to let me drive it/ I could not get my size 14s bith down the tunnel to the pedals at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/10 "2026-09-23T13:11:05Z")
I wonder if those cars run. That might be the reason for the low price. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 1:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/11 "2026-09-23T13:20:55Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > I wonder if those cars run They did have their in-house mechanic and they posted videos of the cars driving down the road. Click on one of the selections and scroll down. You should find the video. The cars I picked have slipped way down the price curve. They are still interesting cars but… Collectors that wanted those cars have been dying off for quite some time. The supply is higher than the demand so the prices are dropping. That 57 Chevy used to be a $100K car and now it is bid $48K because the buyers that wanted one are no longer buying. Same for the Ford Model A woodie. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/12 "2026-09-23T15:20:32Z")
Imagine how hard it would be to find a mechanic that could repair and service all those cars, from the '30s to the '60s, at a price a small museum could afford, I doubt that person exists anymore. Someone with those skills would be working at a restoration shop where he could be charged out by the hour. ---
**Author:** ![Beancounter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Beancounter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beancounter)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/13 "2026-09-23T21:35:20Z")
As a previous owner of a 52 MGTD Competition, a 60’s Jag XKE and a 70’ TR6, while I loved the style none of these are what anyone would consider transportation today. While the mechanics are simple, barely what’s required of a lawnmower mechanic today, the “usability” of the vehicle today, the frequent maintenance and the increasing scarcity (cost)of parts has resulted in a decreasing and ageing pool of buyers. Eventually some museum may display a collection of these “running multimillion vehicles” but it ain’t gonna happen today and certainly without a huge maintenance investment. i.e. What percentage of the Hispano-Suiza cars, state of the art 1920’s, still exist today? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/14 "2026-09-24T01:43:52Z")
That 41 pontiac caught my eye. The last thing i need for 16,000. But in the comments the guy said too bad the frame is all rusted out. Two of the body mounts were missing. Yeah a full frame replacement but looked nice sitting in the museum. I think I could handle a lot of the maintenance but who wants to? A classmate restored his grandfathers model T and what he went through with the babbits and everything was not to be taken lightly. Driving it was another matter. The first mower i bought, dont remember the brand, but the wheel came off first time out and hard to start. Struggled with it then bought a toro and didnt look back. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 9:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/15 "2026-09-24T09:06:56Z")
> [@Beancounter](#): > > What percentage of the Hispano-Suiza cars, state of the art 1920’s, still exist today? Four at the Revs in Naples. Two 1912s (one unrestored) and two restored 1928 H6Bs (one as a running chassis as it was sold). All in running condition as the museum prefers to keep them. I am pretty sure they were the first I have ever seen as of 2016 when I joined as a volunteer. Much like Duesenbergs, Hispanio Suiza are coveted and collected. Maybe not as many survived WW2 as the 350 remaining of 481 Model J Duesenbergs produced, but there are still quite a few left. ---
**Author:** ![Old-Days-Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7feea3/32.png) [@Old-Days-Rick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Old-Days-Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 11:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/16 "2026-09-24T23:18:25Z")
Its funny that these hotshots cant work on Carburetors or drum brakes that are caveman “inferior” technology but can work on crazy whiz bang gadget cars with lin bus and can bus. I can make a basic carb with an old coke can. Plus now we need electronic parking brakes because disc brakes are not up to the task of holding the car still with a simple non electromechanical device unless a odd and problematic type of caliper is used. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/18 "2026-09-25T01:51:56Z")
AI gets its answers by scouring the internet… And we all know the internet is just filled only with facts, don’t we? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 3:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/19 "2026-09-25T03:38:09Z")
Well sure be careful but i couldnt remember the name or lyrics for spanish pipedream. A few words describing it and bingo. Why my mirrors didnt lower in reverse anymore, dealer management team, cargo door settings, horn deactivation, boss name ten years ago etc. saved a lot of time. Just ask what the problem with the 6.2 is and prompt a little that the fix doesnt work, and youll get a lot of info already verified.. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 4:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/20 "2026-09-25T04:06:41Z")
> [@Old-Days-Rick](#): > > Its funny that these hotshots cant work on Carburetors or drum brakes that are caveman “inferior” technology but can work on crazy whiz bang gadget cars with lin bus and can bus. There are a select few out there with just the right amount of gray hair that are comfortable with carbs and drum brakes and CAN/LIN communications. You can guess which systems are prevalent on the road and which area a dying breed. > [@Old-Days-Rick](#): > > I can make a basic carb with an old coke can. Probably a “b o n g” as well… ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 5:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288/21 "2026-09-25T05:55:13Z")
> [@Old-Days-Rick](#): > > Its funny that these hotshots cant work on Carburetors or drum brakes that are caveman “inferior” technology but can work on crazy whiz bang gadget cars with lin bus and can bus. There is no need to learn to repair carburetors, there are no carbureted vehicles in the shop. The last time I worked on a customer’s car of that era, it was the parts department manager’s Road Runner in 2008. > [@Old-Days-Rick](#): > > Plus now we need electronic parking brakes because disc brakes are not up to the task of holding the car still with a simple non electromechanical device unless a odd and problematic type of caliper is used. Automatic parking brakes resolve the frequent complaint that “it is difficult to shift out of park” or “the parking brake won’t hod on a hill”. I have heard many complaints about drum type parking brakes. > [@bing](#): > > Well i just had a thought. The engineers came from the same failing universities that the business folks came from. Maybe we lost a whole generation that couldnt read or do math. Would you send your children to trade school to learn carburetor repair? There are plenty of old mechanics capable of repairing carburetors but are unwilling to work for such low pay and deal with the complaints and criticism that comes with the job. > [@bing](#): > > That 41 pontiac caught my eye. The last thing i need for 16,000. But in the comments the guy said too bad the frame is all rusted out. The underbody rust hasn’t been a problem for the last 33 years, but not good enough to park in a Minnesota garage. There is $16,000 in paint and chrome on that car, the current bid is barely enough money to buy a used Hyundai. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-your-old-school-mechanic-retires/206288.md?page=2)