While the world knows her for her high-fashion red carpet looks and intense roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus, Sydney Sweeney has a “secret” life that involves more grease than glamour. When she isn’t on set, she is a legitimate mechanic who restores classic American muscle cars with her own two hands.
The Secret Life of “Syd’s Garage”
In early 2021, fans discovered a TikTok account called Syds Garage. Instead of dance trends, the videos showed Sydney Sweeney in oversized overalls, covered in grease, and working in a shop. It wasn’t a role for a movie; it was her actual hobby. Sydney grew up in a family of mechanics in Washington state and learned her way around an engine long before she ever set foot on a film set.
The Dream Build: “Cherry” the 1969 Bronco
Sydney’s pride and joy is a red 1969 Ford Bronco she nicknamed “Cherry.” She bought the car at an auction during the pandemic and spent over a year restoring it. She didn’t just pick the paint color; she did the heavy lifting. Sydney famously wire-brushed the rust off the undercarriage, replaced the front and rear axles, and even upgraded the brakes from drums to discs to make it a safe daily driver.
The Famous Transmission Swap
One of the most talked-about moments in her restoration was her decision to swap the original manual transmission for an automatic. While “purists” (and even her own mother!) were skeptical, Sydney defended the move. She wanted the Bronco to be her “daily driver” in the hilly, traffic-heavy streets of Los Angeles. For her, car restoration isn’t about keeping a museum piece, it’s about making a piece of history usable for modern life.
The 1965 Mustang: “Britney”
After finishing the Bronco, Sydney moved on to her next project: a 1965 Ford Mustang in “Brittany Blue,” which she affectionately named “Britney.” This car became the inspiration for her massive collaboration with Ford. Sydney has worked on everything from the Mustang’s suspension to the interior, proving that her mechanical skills weren’t just a “one-hit wonder” with the Bronco.
Built Ford Proud: Empowering Women in the Shop
Sydney’s hobby turned into a powerful partnership with Ford and Dickies. Together, they released a line of “workwear for women” that sold out in less than 36 hours. Sydney used the platform to launch “Auto 101” tutorials, teaching her millions of followers how to check oil, change tires, and jump-start batteries. Her goal is to dismantle the stereotype that the garage is a “men-only” space.
Why She Refuses to Outsource the Work?
Many celebrities buy vintage cars, but few actually build them. For Sydney, the garage is her sanctuary. She describes working on cars as a form of meditation, a place where she can solve physical problems with a wrench rather than emotional ones on a script. By documenting her bruises, broken fingers, and seized bolts, she has inspired a new generation of girls to realize they can be both a screen siren and a skilled mechanic.
