By Karli Wallace
Staff Writer
Senior Joey Petroni has a passion for raising the value of vintage American-made cars by buying and re-selling them with his mechanical touches, making them run in a condition that is brand new.
Petroni took specfic interest in the mechanics of cars at a young age; however, he didn’t start working on them until he was around fourteen. Petroni is extremely particular about the types of cars he works with and also restores, he said. American-made cars are less expensive and easily affordable, Petroni said. Petroni considers his repairs on the cars simple, and much of the process solely depends on what needs to be done and how much the buyer desires.
“I usually use older, American-made cars for the majority of my projects,” Petroni said. “In older cars, there are no obstacles, like computer-based programs, and you can just get straight to the engine and start working right away.”
Petroni has been a hard worker since he could walk, his father Don Petroni said. When Petroni turned fourteen, he started taking his long-standing interest in cars more seriously by starting to restore the cars back into a new quality recreationally. This was inspired by his previous knowledge about cars, how they were built, and by his family and former mechanics.
“I love it,” Don Petroni said. “If Joey decides to make it a career, he could do very well because it comes to him so naturally. He has accomplished so much with cars in such a short period of time, and I know that will continue for the rest of his life .”
Joey Petroni has had interactions on the business side of his passion, he said. Joey Petroni debuted on the television show “Car Matchmaker,” a show that tries to match a potential car buyer with a car someone has fixed up. Joey Petroni brought a 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer in the show’s twenty-sixth episode.
“I’ve sold most of the cars that I have repaired,” said Joey Petroni. “I think that [‘Matchmaker’] was the first time I’d had an interaction with an outside vendor where I’d sold one of my restored cars.”
Alongside being on “Matchmaker” at the age of sixteen, Joey Petroni sells his restored cars on a normal basis. He frequently sells them at mechanic shops. He says that the price of a car usually depends on how much work was done on it, how much the person would be willing to pay, and how rare or exclusive the vintage car and parts are. Joey Petroni has sold nine cars in total that have been repaired and fueled up by himself, with his own car parts and vintage frames from cars.
“I make sure that the car is running smoothly and looks in good shape before I sell it,” Joey Petroni said. “One of my earliest deals was a Land Rover that sold for $3,000, and one of my recent trucks was sold for $11,000. It is also nice to see my hard work pay off through a car that I personally worked on.”
Joey Petroni’s family has been a huge source of encouragement for his love for cars and mechanics, Joey Petroni said. Not only has he discovered a passion early in his life, but Joey Petroni is also working on ways to make mechanics a major part of his future, he said.
“Honestly, I put cars above school sometimes,” Joey Petroni said. “As soon as I get home, I’m already looking at what my next project should be, or I’m looking at parts that are fairly priced and fit with the car I’m working with.”
Joey Petroni wants to work in the field of mechanics and keep following his long-standing passion of restoring American-made cars throughout the rest of his life. Furthermore, he plans to continue his passion in college and beyond.
“I definitely want to keep pursuing buying, selling and restoring cars to make them run smoothly,” Joey Petroni said. “I love seeing older cars that I’ve been working on back in their former glory. It’s so satisfying seeing them running. It’s like bringing the car back to life.”
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