Girl Gang Garage: Empowering Women in Automotive

In the bustling world of automotive repair and restoration, a unique movement is quietly but powerfully gaining momentum. Picture a busy auto shop, a vintage car being painstakingly rebuilt, its engine roaring back to life, body panels reshaped, and a fresh coat of paint gleaming under the lights. The remarkable aspect? Every hand, every mind, every expert involved in this intricate process is female. This is the essence of Girl Gang Garage, an organisation dedicated to challenging the status quo, empowering women, and proving that the automotive industry is a place where female talent not only belongs but thrives.

Founded by the formidable Bogi Lateiner, a veteran of the automotive industry, Girl Gang Garage emerged from a deep-seated need to address the glaring gender gap and pervasive biases experienced by women in the field. Bogi, a dealer-trained BMW technician, entrepreneur, and co-host of MotorTrend+'s 'All Girls Garage' since 2012, has witnessed firsthand the challenges women face. Despite her own celebrity status, she, like many others, has often felt like an 'only' in male-dominated environments, with women frequently feeling unwelcome or discouraged from pursuing automotive careers.

The Spark: Bogi Lateiner's Vision for Change

Bogi Lateiner's journey to establishing Girl Gang Garage is one rooted in both passion and frustration. Her extensive background, from owning an award-winning boutique repair shop to her prominent role on television, equipped her with an intimate understanding of the industry's inner workings. Yet, the persistent gender inequities and the feeling of isolation for women in trades spurred her to action. She envisioned a space where women could not only learn and hone their skills but also feel a profound sense of belonging and support.

This vision crystallised with the launch of her first all-female car restoration project, aptly named the 'Chevy Montage'. The project was more than just a car build; it was a statement. Its primary goals were ambitious: to highlight women actively working in automotive and skilled trades, to demonstrate the widespread interest among women in these fields, and crucially, to provide a welcoming environment where every woman, regardless of experience, would be met with a resounding 'yes'. From this foundational project, Girl Gang Garage was born, growing into a vibrant community where over 300 women – from seasoned experts to complete novices – have since engaged in workshops, networking events, classes, and the hallmark all-female builds that transform vintage vehicles from scrapyard finds into showroom-worthy masterpieces.

Beyond Restoration: Crafting Automotive Masterpieces

At its heart, Girl Gang Garage is about more than just fixing cars; it's about challenging perceptions and creating dialogue. Each vehicle build is meticulously planned to be unique and unconventional, standing on its own merits as a testament to exceptional craftsmanship. The added knowledge that these incredible transformations were achieved by an all-female crew serves as a powerful tool to shift industry perceptions and open doors for future opportunities.

The inaugural 'Chevy Montage' project, a '57 Chevy truck reimagined with a BMW M5 engine, took approximately ten months to complete. It drew the participation of around 100 women, a remarkable 30% of whom had no prior automotive experience. Its debut at the 2017 SEMA Show caused quite a stir, showcasing the collective talent and innovative spirit of the group. Following this success, the gang embarked on their next venture, the 'High Yellow 56', another antique truck meticulously restored with a heightened emphasis on speed and aesthetic detail. These builds, as Bogi Lateiner asserts, are "the fodder for changing hearts, minds, and opinions about a woman’s place and what the collective power of a diverse group of women working together is."

Their latest and arguably most audacious project is the 'Iron Maven', a stunning 1961 Volvo PV544. This build exemplifies the complexity and ambition that Girl Gang Garage has come to represent. The team aimed to give the old 'family sports car' a more aggressive and modern look, coupled with a powerful engine upgrade. A significant challenge and innovation involved integrating as much technology as possible from Volvo's current S60 sedan, including its keyless entry system, modern door handles, door lock actuators, and interior door handle carriers. Such integration necessitated custom parts, leading to the creation of five 3D-printed components using Fusion 360, a testament to their embrace of cutting-edge technology and design. The most intricate of these was a new door handle cover, requiring precise scanning of original parts, size reduction, and then modelling a new cover large enough for the keyless entry sensor and integrated light, yet perfectly scaled for the PV544's smaller doors. After numerous prototypes and careful bodywork, the part was painted 'Rebel Berry', a custom purple hue mixed in collaboration with BASF, chosen by public vote.

Comparative Table of Girl Gang Garage Builds

A Hub for Hands-On Learning and Skill Development

While the allure of camaraderie and networking makes Girl Gang Garage an irresistible destination, its true value lies in its role as an invaluable learning institution. The fully equipped auto shop provides a safe and supportive environment where women can learn and practise new skills without intimidation. Sky Watson, a self-described hobbyist, joined specifically "to learn new skills in a safe space among like-minded women." She has since gained practical experience in areas she couldn't access independently, such as gas metal arc welding, precision grinding, and body shaping.

Crucially, the garage has also championed the development of software skills, opening entirely new avenues for its members. A three-day Fusion 360 class, offered by Autodesk, proved transformative for Watson. She described how it "opened my mind to its possibilities in the automotive industry." Armed with this knowledge and supplementary tutorials, she successfully designed a dome light replacement for her vintage car restoration. "Now I feel the freedom to recreate the part in Fusion 360 and have it printed," Watson enthuses, highlighting the practical application of these skills, especially given the scarcity of original vintage parts.

Before the Fusion 360 workshops, most of the software design work at Girl Gang Garage was handled by the engineers within the group. However, these workshops acted as a springboard, empowering a new audience of women to produce complex renders for 3D printing, both for in-garage builds and their personal projects. Shawnda Williams, a technologist, strategist, and member of Girl Gang Garage, notes that this initiative has "empowered an entirely new audience of women from varying walks of life." She also points out that Fusion 360's intuitive interface helps dispel the notion that technical design software is only for experts, encouraging creativity and curiosity in beginners. The software is truly built with a non-technical audience in mind but remains powerful enough for the most technical person, making it an ideal tool for fostering new talent.

Cultivating Community and Challenging Perceptions

The impact of Girl Gang Garage extends far beyond the tangible skills acquired or the impressive vehicles restored. The most significant, albeit less quantifiable, benefit is the forging of indelible connections between women from vastly different backgrounds. These connections often blossom into lifelong friendships, creating a robust and supportive network that inspires and uplifts its members. Bogi Lateiner aptly summarises this, stating, "They walk away inspired and connected with a supportive network of women." This sense of community is particularly vital in an industry where women have historically been underrepresented and often isolated.

By consistently executing high-calibre, all-female builds, Girl Gang Garage actively challenges deeply ingrained stereotypes about women's capabilities in mechanical and technical fields. Each finished project serves as a visible, undeniable statement, sparking dialogue and fostering a greater understanding of the diverse talent pool available. The existence and success of Girl Gang Garage helps to dismantle the old-fashioned notion that automotive work is solely a man's domain, proving that passion, skill, and dedication know no gender.

Looking Ahead: The Road to Change Continues

The journey of Girl Gang Garage has not been without its challenges. The Iron Maven build, their most ambitious restoration to date, was further complicated by the global COVID-19 pandemic, leading to approximately a year's delay. However, the group's perseverance paid off spectacularly, with the Iron Maven Volvo PV544 debuting at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas in November 2022. This prestigious event, one of the largest vehicle trade shows, has become Girl Gang Garage's customary platform for showcasing their groundbreaking new builds at the BASF booth.

With this audacious project now complete, the opportune moment has arrived for more women to get involved. Whether as a participant eager to learn new skills, a donor supporting this vital mission, or an attendee at one of their regular workshops and classes, there are numerous ways to contribute. Girl Gang Garage has already made a profound impact on countless women's lives and careers, but its achievements are by no means in the rear-view mirror. The future promises even more complex custom parts, bolder builds, and a growing number of women empowered and assured in pursuing their automotive dreams. The road to meaningful change, paved by the collective effort and unwavering spirit of Girl Gang Garage, continues onwards.

Frequently Asked Questions About Girl Gang Garage

• What is the main goal of Girl Gang Garage?

  The main goal is to address the gender gap in the automotive industry by empowering women, providing a supportive learning environment, and showcasing their skills through all-female car restoration projects. They aim to challenge stereotypes and create opportunities for women in trades.
• Who can participate in Girl Gang Garage?

  Girl Gang Garage welcomes women of all skill levels, from actively working automotive experts to complete novices. Their workshops, classes, and build projects are designed to be inclusive and educational for everyone.

• What kind of skills can I learn there?

  Participants can learn a wide range of automotive and fabrication skills, including gas metal arc welding, precision grinding, body shaping, painting, engine work, and even advanced software skills like 3D design using Fusion 360.

• Have they completed any notable car builds?

  Yes, they have completed several high-profile builds. Their first was the 'Chevy Montage', a '57 Chevy truck with a BMW M5 engine. They also built the 'High Yellow 56' (an antique truck) and their latest, the 'Iron Maven', a 1961 Volvo PV544 with modern S60 technology integrations and custom 3D-printed parts.

• How has technology like Fusion 360 helped Girl Gang Garage?

  Fusion 360, a 3D design software, has been instrumental in enabling Girl Gang Garage members to design and create custom parts, especially for older vehicles where original components are scarce. It empowers women, even those without prior technical design experience, to innovate and solve complex engineering challenges for their restoration projects.

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