Jump to content

Wanting to become a Lambo technician


Recommended Posts

(figured this was the right discussion group)

 

Being as how my dream is to one day open up my own high end car dealership, I figured it wouldn't hurt to learn how to service Lambos. Is there a specific training program or place where I could learn how to?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

(figured this was the right discussion group)

 

Being as how my dream is to one day open up my own high end car dealership, I figured it wouldn't hurt to learn how to service Lambos. Is there a specific training program or place where I could learn how to?

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure leaning to be a tech is not the route to exotic car dealership owner. If you are looking to actualize your dreams, your efforts and time would probably be best served working towards a skill set that could bring in the funds required to own/purchase such a dealership.

 

It's kind of like saying "I want to own a mansion with marble floors one day, so I figured I should spend my time now learning how to properly polish marble" Sure, it would be nice to know, but only AFTER you own the mansion could it potentially seem to be a worthwhile time investment.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure leaning to be a tech is not the route to exotic car dealership owner. If you are looking to actualize your dreams, your efforts and time would probably be best served working towards a skill set that could bring in the funds required to own/purchase such a dealership.

 

But knowing how to service the cars would be valuable no? For example, If i bought a Diablo and found out that it needed full fluids, filters, brake flush, tranny, diff, etc, I could do that work in house and save money and time (I think).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree with vyce. If you want to run a dealership learn how to sell, contracts, inventory control, etc.

 

If you want to own a garage learn how to repair the cars. They are two different kinds of business.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree with vyce. If you want to run a dealership learn how to sell, contracts, inventory control, etc.

 

If you want to own a garage learn how to repair the cars. They are two different kinds of business.

 

 

The dealership could also have a garage... Repairing and restoring the cars as well as selling them.

 

I thought it would be useful to know the cars from a mechanical standpoint...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I thought it would be useful to know the cars from a mechanical standpoint...

I doubt you will meet many CEOs who know how to do physical specialty tasks associated with the business they run. Different skill sets.

 

I would be curious to hear how you think it might be useful however. It would at least work towards fully vetting your chain of thought.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

But knowing how to service the cars would be valuable no? For example, If i bought a Diablo and found out that it needed full fluids, filters, brake flush, tranny, diff, etc, I could do that work in house and save money and time (I think).

 

This would be the route to own a shop, not a dealership. I'm with vyce on this one.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would be curious to hear how you think it might be useful however. It would at least work towards fully vetting your chain of thought.

 

 

I want to help oversee and manage the restoration of the cars while they are being put back together. I figure that if I become a certified Lambo tech, that would give me the knowledge to do just that... I suppose that from a "running and owning a collector/high end car dealer" position, a tech certification wouldn't be that useful, there's a certain amount of pride and satisfaction from being able to run a dealership while still having the skill set to restore the cars myself.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I want to help oversee and manage the restoration of the cars while they are being put back together. I figure that if I become a certified Lambo tech, that would give me the knowledge to do just that... I suppose that from a "running and owning a collector/high end car dealer" position, a tech certification wouldn't be that useful, there's a certain amount of pride and satisfaction from being able to run a dealership while still having the skill set to restore the cars myself.

 

Look at it like this:

 

Roy Cats: Knows alot about the cars, the details of the cars, what the major problems are, what the history of a lot of individual cars are. Also knows very well what the cars trade for, what their values are. Probably couldn't repair much of anything though.

 

Driven Exoitics: Knows alot about the cars, the detaild of the cars, what the maor problems are, what the history of a lot of individual cars are. Could repair any problem on the cars to perfection. Doesn't know what the cars really trade for , what their market values are.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I know some great Lamborghini mechanics but I don't know any who own a dealership or even a Lamborghini of their own. I do know a Lamborghini mechanic who even has the logo tattooed on himself.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dealers send their master techs to the Lambo training program. There are workshops every so often to update you on new models, best practices, etc. I would suggest that working for an existing Lambo dealer might be your best education in that business.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dealers send their master techs to the Lambo training program. There are workshops every so often to update you on new models, best practices, etc. I would suggest that working for an existing Lambo dealer might be your best education in that business.

 

 

I assume that I'd have to be employed at a Lambo dealer to go through that program? I take it they don't allow joe public into it...

 

 

 

Maybe you want to be an exotic car tech more then a dealership owner and you're just on the virge of realizing ;)

 

HaHa Thanks, but I want to own my own business one day and I know that owning a high end car dealer and selling those cars is what I want to do. I know I'd be good at it.

 

 

Thanks for the input guys! Really appreciate it!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I see where you're going with this, but I think your mindset is a little clouded here. If you want to know how to wrench on cars and diligently oversee that aspect then that is either service manager territory or owning a service/restoration shop.

 

Look at Bruce Canepa, I know he is fairly knowledgeable about the mechanical aspects of the cars but I doubt he is out turning wrenches on a SL Gullwing or 250 GTO. He spends his time more efficiently running the business and shuttling four renegade big rigs loaded with cars back and forth to Monterrey and Pebble.

 

Knowing how to wrench for your own satisfaction/hobby is one thing, but using that as the means to justify owning a dealership is like saying I enjoy sandwiches so I'm going to build the next Wonder Bread Bakery. The guy who owns/runs Wonder Bread bakeries doesn't make his own sandwiches, or at least doesn't have to.

 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Back in the day I wanted to become an exotic car tech myself/ Aircraft tech for the airforce but realized how much of a nightmare it was going through tech school and the overall cost was going to exceed the price of a new murcielago.

 

Your better off seeking somekind of Apprenticeship program or try and link up with someone locally who's working on exotic cars often(I know its far fetch) to learn your trade in Automotive then see if any exotic car dealership is hiring techs and go from there. It really isn't all that different than working on Corvettes just with a little more car of course. Back where I lived the local shop used to work on Mario Andretti's Diablo which belonged to a friend of mine along with his Testarossa. The techs working there really weren't any different, they just had a general knowledge on how to perform work on cars with an ASC certification. In the end they could have got a job at any exotic car service depo but working on the daily drivers i guess pays the bills. Owning a dealership will only provide you with more crap to do cause now not only would you be working on the car itself but you'd also have to keep the business a float. Both are extreme full time jobs i wouldn't do together personally. Hire a good tech, start up a dealer or go work at a good dealer.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Seems like all the Lambo dealer techs today were just kicked out of a GM dealership, so I guess I'd start at a Chevy dealership!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Not to mention look at how many successful lambo dealers had to close up shop at the last economic downturn. A few of them owned by very capable dealership owners.....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 5 years later...
(figured this was the right discussion group)

 

Being as how my dream is to one day open up my own high end car dealership, I figured it wouldn't hurt to learn how to service Lambos. Is there a specific training program or place where I could learn how to?

 

I have been a dealership owner for Alfa, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati back in the golden days of carbs and easy Bosch injection. I started as an independent shop with the Italian Ferrari wizard Alf Francis as my mentor, instructor, friend at my shop. Because he was so famous with Enzo we had within three months 5 275 GTB/4's in the shop for upper end jobs as unleaded gas came on the scene. The man was an old grand master on all Italian. It wasn't long before we had Lambos and Ferraris lining the street in the middle of Kansas of all places. I was an engineer already but I learned more in that man's last 24 months than I had in six years working at a Ferrari dealership while getting my degree and masters. A high-end used exotic store with killer service and parts location ability should be your dream. I met the brothers at Harvard getting an MBA who ended up with Lambo before the Chrysler buy out. I worked with them as a Service Engineer at the factory and then teaching mechanics so they could go to dealerships. We set up a school in Dallas and I had 5 brothers who had been with me for three years working on the exotics join me at the school. We had lots of guys try to become exotic techs but only a few made the grade. Today at most shops no one knows how to maintain the older cars and I field questions from dealerships on how to all the time. I see there are no learning shops out there anymore. For the last 15 years we have been parting out really dead exotics to keep the older cars alive worldwide. I have been playing with the idea on building a new facility to teach, repair and race the Lamborghini in the GT3 category. Our entry requirements will be that you know the mechanics of an automobile like the back of your hand for an oral test. That is book knowledge. The hands on we will show you in all types of applications over a two year period. At the end the 5 guys we pick will be able to walk into any exotic shop and be begged to work there. You will have to have a tool set that would make a GM store mechanic cry. Snap-On will become your wife's worst enemy. Cleanliness in your person and your work is of the upmost importance. You could get tired and just barely lean on a Countach and your butt mark could cost ten grand to fix. Grease from a shoe, pants or hand on the interior is the end of you life as an exotic mechanic. Your ability to work advanced math is a must, your quickness to recognize a problem and create a solution must be cat like. Once you master all of this grasshopper you will become a real exotic mechanic. At Lambo in the 80's there was a group of brothers in the factory shop. These guys were like gods to the Lambo world. Now they are all gone and to this day no one at the shop has taken their place. Working on the new cars in most cases requires you to be an electronic whiz. But be a hands on guy also that can rebuild a 5 litre with your eyes closed. That will make your shop a success.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have been a dealership owner for Alfa, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati back in the golden days of carbs and easy Bosch injection. I started as an independent shop with the Italian Ferrari wizard Alf Francis as my mentor, instructor, friend at my shop. Because he was so famous with Enzo we had within three months 5 275 GTB/4's in the shop for upper end jobs as unleaded gas came on the scene. The man was an old grand master on all Italian. It wasn't long before we had Lambos and Ferraris lining the street in the middle of Kansas of all places. I was an engineer already but I learned more in that man's last 24 months than I had in six years working at a Ferrari dealership while getting my degree and masters. A high-end used exotic store with killer service and parts location ability should be your dream. I met the brothers at Harvard getting an MBA who ended up with Lambo before the Chrysler buy out. I worked with them as a Service Engineer at the factory and then teaching mechanics so they could go to dealerships. We set up a school in Dallas and I had 5 brothers who had been with me for three years working on the exotics join me at the school. We had lots of guys try to become exotic techs but only a few made the grade. Today at most shops no one knows how to maintain the older cars and I field questions from dealerships on how to all the time. I see there are no learning shops out there anymore. For the last 15 years we have been parting out really dead exotics to keep the older cars alive worldwide. I have been playing with the idea on building a new facility to teach, repair and race the Lamborghini in the GT3 category. Our entry requirements will be that you know the mechanics of an automobile like the back of your hand for an oral test. That is book knowledge. The hands on we will show you in all types of applications over a two year period. At the end the 5 guys we pick will be able to walk into any exotic shop and be begged to work there. You will have to have a tool set that would make a GM store mechanic cry. Snap-On will become your wife's worst enemy. Cleanliness in your person and your work is of the upmost importance. You could get tired and just barely lean on a Countach and your butt mark could cost ten grand to fix. Grease from a shoe, pants or hand on the interior is the end of you life as an exotic mechanic. Your ability to work advanced math is a must, your quickness to recognize a problem and create a solution must be cat like. Once you master all of this grasshopper you will become a real exotic mechanic. At Lambo in the 80's there was a group of brothers in the factory shop. These guys were like gods to the Lambo world. Now they are all gone and to this day no one at the shop has taken their place. Working on the new cars in most cases requires you to be an electronic whiz. But be a hands on guy also that can rebuild a 5 litre with your eyes closed. That will make your shop a success.

 

Holy six year time warp...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...