OK, I'll repost
I did the same sort of thing a few years back.I sold my Scirocco for £500 and paid my first months rent with that,and bought a couple of tins of paint and a kettle.The garage had a 2 post ramp,and a compressor.I did this for 3.5 years and enjoyed every minute.I did everything on my own,servicing,repairs,bodywork,paintwork,towbars (a great earner)and even repairing motorcycles,lawn tractors,anything!I didn't really specialise in anything,but I'm known locally for my interest in classic and retro cars,and also Fiat X1/9's.I had brilliant customers,some travelling over 100 miles to let me repair their cars.In my 3rd year my turnover was nearly £35,000.
I don't know if this is good or not,as I'm a mechanic,not a businessman,but I did OK I think.I'd do it again in a minute if I could find decent premises,but I did see a lot of changes in my short time there,mostly to do with enviromental and waste issues,although I was never bothered by them,I do think this is going to become a bigger issue in the future.
Here's a link to my garage,click on MKK Motors
http://members.lycos.co.uk/kowalski72/
As you can see it was certainly nothing fancy,but none of my customers ever mentioned the fact that it was a broken down shed,even though it wasn't the image I really wanted.Folks just want a good job at a decent price.
One thing I will say is DONT scrimp on insurance.I had an accident (not my fault) in a customers car and as I was a new business,I had the bare minimum I could get.It was all sorted out properly in the end,but far more stressful than it needed to be. Needless to say this was a wake up call for the future.Roadrunner Insurance were excellent and highly recommended.
I couldn't believe the amount of phonecalls I got from advertising companies etc,it was SOOO annoying trying to untangle yourself from below a dashboard to answer the phone,only to be asked "Can I speak to the Managing Director please?? This used to happen many times a day.
All in,I made a living,made many many friends,worked on some cracking cars and fulfilled an itch I'd had for some time.
Go for it.If you are good,honest,and reliable,you cant lose.People talk.They are your best advert,and best of all,free!
I never had a complaint,most of my new work was on recommendation,and I was attracting the kinds of cars I wanted to work on.When I bought my C200,and sorted it out and repainted it,I had 2 190E's,an A class and a couple of E classes on my books within weeks.
Now I'm back at Kwik-Fit,and back to being scum of he earth..People are surprised when they come in for tyres and you know far more about their classic car than even they do!!!
How dare you Sir 
I have a trusty W124.
Please repost your story of your own business venture. I for one was interested to hear of your enthusiasm for American cars. I have to confess to a weakness for pre 73 Ford Mustangs myself. 
