TV shows like Chasing Classic Cars, Car Masters: rust to riches, and American Pickers, brought names like Wayne Carini, Constance Nunes, and Frank Fritz to the big stage as car celebrities, each unique their own way.
Aaron Kaufmann is another person to make it to the big stage through the TV show, Fast N’ Loud and for being a former member of the renowned Gas Monkey Garage Crew. He is estimated to have a net worth of $8 million, and he is one of the best mechanics and fabricators in the world. Not everything is known about Kaufmann. Here are some little-known facts about him.
10 He Was Discovered By Richard Rawlings In A Local Garage
Rawlings and Kaufmann have been associated with one another for over two decades now. For a long time, Aaron Kaufmann and Richard Rawlings were the iconic duo of the hit series Fast N’ Loud. They met in a local garage shop where Aaron was working at the time in Fortworth, Texas, which happens to be the hometown of Rawlings.
The story has it that Richard walked into the shop, asking for their best guy to check out his Ford Mainline. Aaron was recommended for the job, which he did perfectly. Many years later, when Rawlings opened Gas Monkey Garage, he remembered Aaron and invited him to be a part of his team. The rest, as they say, is history.
9 His Beard Is An Identity Trait For Him
From several years on screen, Aaron could be easily identified by his long, full beard. Severally, he has been criticized over his choice to not shave his beard. This didn’t affect Kaufmann in any way. He didn’t care about anyone’s opinion. He went on doing what he did best, building cars. In an interview, he said his beard had become somewhat of an identity.
The beard seemed to work just fine for Aaron until July of 2020, when he shocked his fans by posting a picture of his sheared beards. It seemed like an iconic moment for Aaron and fans alike as he had grown out his beard for a decade.
8 Passionate About Cars Since His Childhood
Right from his childhood, Aaron developed a keen interest in cars, a trait he shared with his father. Kaufmann described his father as being the source of his passion for cars, something all too common with famous TV car celebrities. It was in his tender days that he began to experiment with any and all mechanical devices he could lay his hands on.
He would dismantle machines and try to couple them again. Like many experiments, some went wrong, others were rebuilt successfully. This curiosity for tinkering pushed him to arguably become the best and most creative fabricator in the world today.
7 Being A Boss Was Harder Than He Thought
After exiting Fast N’ Loud and subsequently Gas Monkey Garage in 2017, he opened his garage, which allowed him to do his things at his own pace. What he didn’t expect, however, was how being a boss wasn’t a walk in the park.
With so many responsibilities that came with being in charge, it wasn’t easy to keep his head afloat. He admitted in an interview with Dmagazine that becoming a boss was by far the hardest job he had to do. It was a rocky transition.
6 Owning Arclight Fabrication Is a Dream Come True
Anyone who has seen Aaron Kaufmann in any of the shows he has featured in would agree that he is a very creative fabricator. Like being a mechanic, Kaufmann is a self-taught fabricator. A skill he picked up in his childhood. Due to creative differences between him and Rawlings, he had to leave Gas Monkey Garage, a decision that shocked the show’s fans.
Soon after, he opened his own auto shop, Arclight fabrications; a name inspired by Arclight, the hottest and brightest blue light fire generated by welding. Starting this shop finally allowed Aaron’s creative juices to flow with no restrictions.
5 One Of The Original Pioneers Of Fast N' Loud
Most people became acquainted with Aaron Kaufmann through Discovery Channel’s successful series Fast N’ Loud. He was with the show since its first broadcast in 2012. Before that, he was with the Gas Monkey Garage.
Kaufmann and Rawlings would often travel around America to put the word out about Gas Monkey Garage. It was the show, however, that gave him access to the world. He was and is still known his fabulous creations. Up until his exit in 2017, he was the lead mechanic of Gas Monkey Garage.
4 Aaron Doesn’t Back Down From A Good Challenge
A fact worthy of note about Aaron Kaufmann is that he is always ready for whatever challenge is thrown at him. He thrives of the habit of exceeding his expectations.
He created some of the best fabrications of Fast N’ Loud, and now, he has opened his own garage. Kaufmann always wants to go bigger, a liberty he didn’t really enjoy when he was with Fast N’ Loud.
3 He Had No Plan To Return To TV
It was a shocker to Kaufmann’s fans who had gotten used to him on the Fast N’ Loud show when he announced he was quitting. It was even more heartbreaking when he made it known that he would not be returning to TV.
He wanted a quiet, relaxed life away from the cameras. After several persuasions from the public and some producers, he finally conceded. In 2018, shifting gears, Kaufmann’s own show was aired on the Discovery channel. It would seem like he is not done with the lights and cameras after all.
2 A Fresh Start and New Reality Shows
Aaron Kaufmann is already creating an identity of his own outside Fast N’ Loud and Gas Monkey. He now owns a fabrication garage shop known as Arclight Fabrications. He also has his own reality shows which are being aired on the Discovery channel.
His first show, Shifting Gears, features Kaufmann and his crew fabricating their cars and pushing them to their limit by testing them on the most extreme tracks. He is also the star of the show ‘Aaron Needs a Job,’ which is about Aaron traveling around the country and testing various jobs in the Automobile industry.
1 He Is A Self-Taught Mechanic
Most people who have seen shows that have featured Kaufmann can testify to his high level of ingenuity. His works are a testament to his almost unmatched skill and knowledge. Yet, for all this know-how, Kaufmann never attended any technical schools or related institutions.
Everything he knows now; he has been teaching himself from his childhood. He made several mistakes, but he didn’t let that deter him. He put his skills to constant test in the local garage where Richard Rawlings finally discovered him.