15 Gritty Photos of Mechanics That Are Pure Old-School Cool

Vintage Photos April 20, 2025

Last Updated on May 3, 2025 by Colby Droscher

Covered in all manners of grease, dust, and determination, old-school mechanics truly embodied another level of rugged cool. From impressive vintage gas stations to actual makeshift garages plotted on the sides of roads, we aim to provide a collection of vintage photos that share glimpses into mechanics from back in the day.

Still craving trades-in-action nostalgia? Check out our 12 Vintage Photos of Blacksmiths That Are Pure Old-School Cool, cool off by the docks in Vintage Fishing Photos, or rewind further with 90 Photos That Capture Life in the 1940s. Time to roll up the coveralls and feel the torque.

1. An Early 1900s Auto Mechanic Crushing It

Vintage Mechanic Photos - A mechanic in overalls works beneath a vintage car elevated at a steep angle inside a spacious garage or workshop, surrounded by tools and equipment.
anonymous

Now that’s just an all-around stunning shot.

2. A car mechanic in Brooklyn (1949)

A man in work clothes inspects the engine of a vintage car with the hood open, parked on a city street lined with old apartment buildings and stoops.
studebaker1934

Brooklyn had some of the best mechanics around.

3. An aviation mechanic poses for a shot during WWII.

A man wearing a flight suit and sunglasses stands under the wing of a large aircraft. Buildings and a truck are visible in the background on a bright, sunny day.
anonymous

What a stud.

4. This dude knew how to fix up a car in need of fixing.

A man in a white T-shirt and jeans stands next to a vintage car with its hood open, holding a tool, in front of a brick building with garage doors.
grinch89

No kidding, he probably made quick work of the most beat-up and dragged around cars out there.

5. Mechanics hoisting a train engine in 1935.

A large steam locomotive is lifted by a crane inside an industrial factory, with other train parts and machinery visible below and workers nearby. The scene is in black and white, suggesting a historical setting.
deleted

Hoisting a train engine was no easy feat.

6. Female British military mechanic fixes a jeep motor, 1945

A young woman in military uniform works under the raised hood of a vehicle inside a garage, focused on the engine. Large numbers are painted on the side of the vehicle. Light streams in through open wooden doors.
anonnymous

Those Jeep motors could be real testy.

7. Powerhouse mechanic working on steam pump, 1920

A muscular man in a sleeveless shirt and work pants uses a large wrench to adjust machinery in an industrial setting, with a circular metal component in the background.
anonymous

You can just tell that this lad’s grip strength was off the charts.

A 1943 portrait of a Chicago & North Western Railroad mechanic oiling his locomotive is preserved in the Library of Congress photo archive.

8. 1960s, legendary NASCAR mechanic, fabricator, engine builder, and inventor Henry “Smokey” Unick

A man in a cowboy hat and racing suit pushes a race car with the number 13 on the side. The car has worn tires and stickers on the body, and the scene appears to be at a racetrack.
anonymous

The hat really elevates his whole aesthetic to an iconic level.

9. Harley-Davidson School for Motorcycle Mechanics (1917)

A sepia photo shows a group of men in uniform sitting on folding chairs in a classroom, taking notes while an instructor at the front points to equipment on a bench. Coats and hats hang on hooks along the wall.
anonymous

These classes were all business.

10. Mechanic lubricating Gino Sciardis’ chain during the 1949 Tour De France

A cyclist receives assistance from a man leaning out of a car, who is oiling the bicycle’s chain while both are in motion during a race. The cyclist wears a race number 12 on his back. The image is in black and white.
deleeteed

Bike mechanics don’t mess around when it comes to getting their job done effectively.

11. Auto mechanic Sam ‘Scotty’ Scott, standing next to the car with an open hood, 1941

A smiling mechanic stands beside a car with its hood open, holding a cloth in his hands. He wears a beret and a work shirt, and his hands and arms are marked with grease. The background shows a street with buildings and power lines.
anonymous

It looks like a particularly enjoyable day on the job.

12. Automotive repair in the ’20s was no joke at all.

A mechanic in coveralls repairs an early 20th-century car suspended vertically by chains inside a garage, while another person stands by a second car in the background. Tools are scattered on a nearby table.
demshiny

Seriously though.

13. Some car mechanics holding it down steady out in Rome, Italy in 1959.

Four men in racing suits stand beside a vintage race car marked with the number 18. Classic cars and a "Super Caltex" banner are visible in the background. The image has a black-and-white, retro appearance.
deleted

14. Queen Elizabeth working as truck mechanic in WWII, in 1945

A group of women in military-style uniforms stand around an open car hood. One examines the engine, while another, dressed in a coat and beret, observes. Medical supplies and a Red Cross symbol are visible on the vehicle.
misterdecember

She could seemingly do it all.

15. An auto mechanics teacher helping out his class, circa 1966

A group of young men and an older man stand around a car in a workshop, working on its exposed engine. Most wear work clothes or overalls, and tools are visible. The setting appears to be a classroom or garage.

Auto mechanics classes were kind of way more fun than the rest of what was out there.

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