Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Dragicevic.
Mark, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m not sure many people aspire to work with their hands and fix cars, I didn’t. My father fixed cars so it was the natural thing for me to get into, but I had other ideas.
I served in the US Marine Corps, and went to USC. My father recently passed but it ends up that I am following in his footsteps. Trying to fill his shoes.
He created a very successful and rewarding business with my mother. The family business has been serving the Silver Lake community since 1975. I believe we are one of the oldest if not the oldest and longest running local business in Silver Lake. We have some customers that have been with us over 4 decades.
Has it been a smooth road?
The typical day of a car mechanic is demanding. Hard on your body, and you have to be up to the task of managing a high-volume business that literally gets people from A to B. In Los Angeles, folks rely on their cars, you have to be able to work under great pressure and be well prepared to overcome the daily challenges.
Part of the preparation is keeping up with technology and the latest innovations. Every year, the auto manufacturers release new car models with new technology. Being able to understand the technology and troubleshoot issues can be difficult. You really have to be dedicated to keeping up with the latest technology and continuing your education. “Improvise, Adapt, Overcome,” is a mantra I learned in the Marines and part of our philosophy at European Motors.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
European Motors is an auto repair facility, servicing European Automobiles. We do auto diagnostics and test the computer control modules of modern cars. We repair vehicles for a large number of issues. We conduct scheduled maintenance for the different manufacturer recommended mileage intervals.
I believe, what sets us apart is our honesty and our deep history in the Silver Lake community. We have some families that have been customers since the mid-1970s. We get to know them on a very personal basis. The children, the parents, the grandparents, etc. If you treat people right they will become lifelong customers. And we plan on serving the community for another 40 years.
On a side note, we actually found out our property has been an auto repair facility since the early 1900s. You can see some old black and white photos of the shop on our website. So, I guess our location has been serving Silver Lake for 100 years now. We need to keep the streak alive.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, LA is car culture. I don’t think many people aspire to work with their hands every day, and become car technicians, but it is a very rewarding job. You get to help a lot of people get to where they need to be. People rely on their cars and knowing you have an honest and competent team, looking after your car, that won’t rip you off, is a big stress reliever! We have developed lifelong relationships from people of all walks of life, simply, from walking into our shop.
Pricing:
- $128 Per Hour
- A typical Los Angeles auto dealerships charges between $180 – $220. Our staff is factory trained and ASE certified similar to a car dealership, but we are able to offer more attractive rates due to our business situation. Since my parents bought the property where we operate; we can offer more reasonable rates to our customers.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2511 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
- Website: https://reliabilityonivanhoehill.com
- Phone: (323) 668-0339
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reliability_on_ivanhoehill/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/europeanmotorslosangeles/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/european-motors-los-angeles
Image Credit:
rpm65.com
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
