99-year-old Ray Gloster. Image credits: ABC NewsIn the small Victorian town of Underbool, with only a few hundred people living, Ray Gloster continues to do what he has done almost all his life: repair cars. ABC News Australia reported that, at 99 years of age, Gloster still works six days a week at A.J. Gloster & Sons, the family garage founded by his father in 1925. The publication reported that Ray Gloster has now spent 83 years of his life working as a mechanic, making him a strong contender to become the world’s oldest working mechanic if his application pending at the Guinness World Records is recognised. Notably, his story has drawn attention worldwide, not just because of his age but also because of his unwavering commitment to the profession he entered as a teenager.ABC News noted that Ray began helping his family business during his school years before joining as their full-time mechanic. The 99-year-old witnessed the transformation of the automotive industry from manually repaired vintage vehicles to today’s electrically controlled ones, and despite those technological changes, Ray still continues to work in the same workshop, handling the repairs alongside the younger members of his family.A family garage that has served for generationsAccording to ABC News Australia, A.J. Gloster & Sons was established in 1925 by Ray’s father, Arthur “Joe” Gloster and has remained in operation for more than a century now. Over the decades, the garage has become more than a repair shop; as the automotive industry changed, the business adapted while keeping its reputation as the town’s trusted garage. According to the report, the business has now been operating for five generations of the Gloster family, with Ray continuing to work alongside his sons, grandson and great-grandson, making the business an uncommon example of multiple generations sharing the same profession under one roof. Notably, the family’s continuity has become an integral part of Underbool’s identity, with customers returning not just for repairs but also because of the trust built through the business.99-year-old Ray Gloster. Image credits: ABC NewsFurthermore, ABC News Australia reported that the Gloster family has started compiling historical records and employment documents to support an application to Guinness World Records. The pending application seeks recognition for Ray Gloster as the world’s oldest mechanic still actively working. Therefore, until Guinness World Records completes its verifications, Ray remains a potential candidate rather than a confirmed holder of the title. With the Guinness World Records requiring documentary proof of age, employment history, and evidence that the individual is still working, the current recognised record belongs to Italy’s Fabio Sabbioni, whose record was verified in December 2024 at 98 years and 64 days. Since Ray is now older than the benchmark, his family believes he has a strong case once the evidence is assessed.A lifelong passion for a single professionAccording to the ABC report, Ray Gloster has never viewed his profession as simply a job; thus, even at the age of 99, he continues to clock in every day because he enjoys solving mechanical problems and interacting with the customers, rather than feeling obligated to remain employed. The report claimed that his routine has remained unchanged despite his age, demonstrating that experience and enthusiasm can remain valuable assets in skilled trades. The 99-year-old mechanic’s career, therefore, has long become a source of pride for not only his family but also for the wider Underbool community. His commitment to the family business and willingness to work six days a week have already cemented his legacy in Australia’s automotive industry regardless of whether or not Guinness confirms the records of his 83-year career.