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School, School and more School. Become ASE Master tech then look for investors, you are going to need a butload of $$$$$$$$$$.

A word of caution, once you start doing something for money, no matter how much you like it now, it becomes a job you no longer like. If I was to make a suggestion, get a job, something you can make enough money at to enjoy your muscle car interests as a hobby.

 

C4C is correct most of us have either gone to lots of school or learned by the school of hard knocks,i have been playin with cars for close to 40 years never been to school for it everyone has their specialty i can teardown and rebuild engines but figuring out cams ,heads,ect not a clue.However my specialty is suspension/brakes/exhaust and design of interior/exterior i wanted to own my own shop when i was young like you but i'm glad that did not happen it ain't all fun and games very expensive and there are so many customers you can't please those are the folks that will make you wish you didn't own your own shop.I think you should go to school get an education in something you can earn a good living doing and you like and just do cars as a hobby,less stress more enjoyment i have friends who own shops they will tell you don't do it it has ruined their love of the hobby.

 

How does something you love to do get old just because you do it for money? People drag race for money.

 

I agree with C4C also.... I never had any schooling on cars but the school of hard knocks.. But I do know how a hobby that you love can be a pain in the butt job... Several years ago I lived in a coastal town in the Pan Handle of Florida... I had a 26' boat and a group of us would go off shore fishing one or two times per month.. Was a blast!!! Then I got the idea that I would do this as a second job for some extra money... Went to schood and got my Captains License... got all the permits and all the other stuff to be a "Charter Boat".. This was OK for about a year or so.. Then it became a job... It wasn't fun anymore.... It was work..... Needless to say I stuck it out for two years and then a hurricane sunk my boat and I was out of business... Not a bit sorry...... When you have a job its not as much fun as when you do it on your terms and conditions... JMO

 

it turns into a job, i love driving when i got my license who didn't i got a job as a driver now i hate driving. don't work as a driver anymore. i like construction work. but its real slow right now. if you like muscle cars keep it as a hobby. as far as learning, i learned it my self. built my first 318 when i was 16. you learn as you go and what works and what does not. i didn't have Internet when i was young i also lived in a small town that was challenging too every one around me was a Chevy fanatic. now there's Internet theres allot of information out there to read and learn.

 

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They loved doing it that's why they started but now it has become so commercialized thats it turned into big busness with lots of money involved i'm sure most of the older pros won't tell you that they don't like racing any more but things have changed since the 70s.

To answer your question doing what you love for a job makes you not want to do it on your free time,we are telling you from personal experiance we all have been there and done that.

 

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Sounds like you already have a plan we are not trying to ruin your dream just tellin you how it really is. Good luck in your career, enjoy your mopars.

 

Just remember construction is iffy as to busy and slow. A lot of schools are pushing all kinds of this stuff because out of work folks are looking for an out so by the time you finish school who knows. You like cars, maybe engineering would be better. Can be applied to everything. Also $100,000 a year sounds big but times are changing and that is considered middle class these days. Nothing wrong with it, I make much less, own my home, and all my toys and I am happy. I worked in the lumber industry, that is why I am out of work now. No construction going on. I drove 80,000 # trucks for close to 30 years. I don't enjoy driving like I did as a kid. But cruising the back roads and enjoying the two lane black top is still a pleasure. Engineering is just one way to go. With a degree you can go as far as you want. Might be a good idea to join the armed forces and live a little see what's out there. You can go to school after and they will pay for it. In any event don't make any snap decisions. Good Luck and have a great future.

 

Depending on where you live, $100K is not as much as it seems.

As for your future car collection, you'd be better served buying a house and have a few collector cars vs. having 20 cars and renting. If you can afford to purchase a home and have 20 cars, awesome. Real estate is the better investment in the long run.

 

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he is right. i wish i bought my home when i was younger. it would of been paid off by now. in the mean time have a weekend car that you can wrench on.

 

We applaud you enthusiasm. Many of us had the same idea when we were your age. As you can see only a few managed to make it reality. We are not trying to stomp on your dreams. Keep up the faith and follow your heart. You might make it. Remember real-estate is always your best investment. There is only so much land no more being made. Once you own your home you can do a lot with all the rent money you save. I live in my garage but still have a house to go to sleep in
Let's see 20 cars times an average of $10,000,(low estimate) 200,000 a nice house huh? Now you have a place to keep them . Still not free, taxes, utilities, up keep, but at least no rent. Look and see what a 20 stall garage will cost to rent. That's just storage. Your gonna need a huge shop full of equipment to build high end cars. Enjoy the hobby follow your dreams. If you really want it you will have it. I guess we are all saying. look before you leap. Building and selling cars is still a great hobby.

 

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i would buy a muscle car if you haven't already..
Fixer er up.
in this order:
1. safety
2. reliablity
3. looks

and sell it you may be able to sell it after number 2 i finished
than go to ur next car

if you get your house get a 2 car garage set up, this will give you some room to do you work and have ur tools.

you can still do your main job and do cars for fun .you will learn from hands on.
save ur money you get from ur cars reinvest it in more cars to fix.

 

have a sit down with those guys and get honesty - they will tell you it gets old. you go to the drags and see the crew guys working on the cars, then you have to think - you wake up, build an engine, tear it down, build an engine, tear it down, bulid an engine, tear it down, then go to bed... all day, damn near every day. your family is far away and your home is the pits or a hotel room.

you want to strike out on your own, it sounds great but it is a giant sacrifice. you are the entire business from the janitor to the ceo. you don't punch out after you put in a days work - you keep going because there are deadlines to meet and business to attract for when the current project is finished. you don't get paid for your time, not nearly for what you put into it. these guys have it right when they tell you school. you aren't going to do anything without a quality education.

you want to build custom cars - you go to school, learn everything you can. then you go to work for a guy in the field and learn more - if you're lucky you work for a guy willing to show you the ropes and you take everything in all the while saving every penny. then once you've mastered the trade you go on your own.

i'm an artist by trade - i went out on my own 6 years ago after college and a two year apprenticeship at a local studio. it's 24 hours a day, every day. i love what i do, but it can be a chore. the biggest piece of advice i can give is to save your money, enough so when you do go out on your own you can buy all your equipment outright - do not finance! that saved me when the economy took a big crap and left people without disposable income.

good luck

 

Rule #1
You will never start at the top of anything worth the while.

You have to climb your way up.
Get an education, however much you can afford. If that's high school, then so be it.
Get a job with a well established shop, doing whatever. If that's sweeping or taking care of the mechanics tools, your foots in the door.

While you are changing tires, watch everything!
Not just what the mech's are doing but also things like:
How customers are treated.
What service seems to be a good money maker.............
Point being there is MUCH more to running a successful shop then knowing torque specs on a rod bearing.


Rule #2
No education will replace hands on work experience.

Getting the chance for hands on experience without the education is what's tuff.

Anyway, I'm no expert at cars, nor am I a business owner, but I do know that if you really want something, you have to be prepared to work hard for it while keeping an "I want to learn everything" attitude.
And you can't let people talk you out of your dreams by making you think you have to start at the top.

Joe.