{"id":11539,"date":"2020-03-26T16:00:25","date_gmt":"2020-03-26T16:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autobodysource.com\/?p=3599"},"modified":"2023-02-24T18:29:52","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T18:29:52","slug":"rebuilding-perceptions-girl-gang-garage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/autobodysource.com\/rebuilding-perceptions-girl-gang-garage\/","title":{"rendered":"Rebuilding Perceptions: Girl Gang Garage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
MotorTrend\u2019s All Girls Garage<\/em> host, Bogi, and her team share the inspiration & gals behind their latest build, and the dramatic impact they’re having on the automotive industry<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
13-Minute Read<\/p>\n\n\n\n
by Autobody Source staff<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At some point, you\u2019ve probably known a girl who likes to work with her hands & was instinctively pushed to take up sewing, pottery, jewelry-making, etc. Girl Gang Garage has flipped that stereotype into a platform for gathering women from across the world, of all skill levels, to send a statement that the automotive industry is a great place for a gal to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Gang\u2019s latest build, a 1950s Volvo PV544 coupe, is the third in its lineup following the \u201cChevy Montage\u201d and \u201cHigh Yellow 56\u201d pickups they unveiled at SEMA in 2017 and 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Girl Gang Garage founder & MotorTrend\u2019s All Girls Garage<\/em> host, Bogi, decided to switch things up this year as the journey continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor me, High Yellow was an apparition because it was a mostly stock Chevy with a Chevy engine in it,\u201d she said, \u201cBut I like doing the \u2018odd duck\u2019 car with the \u2018odd duck\u2019 engine because it draws attention, and when you draw attention you get to have conversations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The saying goes that conversations spark change. So we chatted with Bogi and her Girl Gang Garage business partner Shawnda on the inspiration and women behind the Volvo project, and the dramatic impact they\u2019re having on career and gender perceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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IT’S A BOY<\/strong> Yep, the Volvo is a boy. In fact, Bogi says all of her cars are boys. \u201cHigh Yellow is the only girl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s too fancy to be a boy,\u201d Shawnda adds, \u201cbut every car moving forward will be a boy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her TED talks, Bogi has compared tackling her builds to the emotional ups, downs and rewards of having a baby. \u201cAfterward, all you remember is those cute little dimples and those cute little feet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Gang is close to announcing a name for the car, complete with his own custom logo, like his siblings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As of this interview, the Volvo had received a modified ride height, shaved drip rails, tubbed rear fenders, and been measured for custom bucket seats. The team say a slick engine choice is in the works, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got some tricks up our sleeve.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
THE INSPIRATION<\/strong> The Gang estimates 10 months to complete the Volvo, capping out at about 50 volunteers to keep the spirit of the build intact and match their garage space limits. Balancing headcount and workspace, along with a series of workshops, is what makes the magic happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s workshops kicked off in March with a ladies-only metalworking & welding class for beginners, plus the first-ever Girl Gang Garage CO-ED session \u2013 a metal sculpture class for experienced welders \u2013 both taught by legendary metal artist Barbie The Welder, aka @autobodybarbie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A full-on build can be super intimidating for a beginner, but the classes are a great intro, allowing learners to grasp basics from to engines to routine car care in a setting that nurtures new skills as they grow. The aim is to provide usable skills to even the average car owner who may not care to rebuild a classic car, but wants to discover the joy of confidently changing her car\u2019s oil on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bogi says small-scale builds are also in the works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mentoring focus of the Volvo project is on pairing volunteers to balance each worker\u2019s skills and experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe car is the smallest part of what we do here,\u201d Bogi says. \u201cThis is, no pun intended, just the vehicle through which we do it. Our goal is empowering women and promoting women in the trades.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n