SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Inside the bustling bay of Eloise Automotive and Alignment, you’ll find Bryn Ungeheuer hard at work, likely tinkering under the hood of a Bentley or BMW. Her unwavering dedication to her craft has landed her Best Mechanic in Best of Tahoe 2026.
Before Ungeheuer became one of the only female mechanics in the area to specialize in European vehicles, her love for automotive technology started in high school while taking an auto shop elective class.
“I figured I shouldn’t be that one person stuck on the side of the road who didn’t even know how to change her own tire,” said Ungeheuer.
From freshman to senior year, her interest in automotive mechanics grew as she apprenticed at Ward’s Automotive in Diamond Springs where she learned to work on Fords and Dodges before heading off to study at Universal Technical Institute in Sacramento.
Following trade school, Ungeheuer met Greg Zink, owner of Tahoe Import Auto, an independent European specialist garage and Ungeheuer’s home base for the next 13 years. From 2011 to 2025, Zink mentored Ungeheuer, providing her with an influx of knowledge and experience.
“Greg gave me my shot. He’s the one that actually taught me all about the European and German import stuff that I do now,” said Ungeheuer. “I owe a lot to Greg when it comes to my life here. If I went straight into a dealership fresh out of college instead, it probably would have been a different story.”
After Tahoe Import Auto permanently closed its doors, Zink focused his attention on his sister shop, Carson Valley Import Auto, and Ungeheuer began working at Eloise Automotive and Alignment.
She now falls under two niches – one being the 2.14% of female mechanics in a male-dominated field, and the second being a mechanic specializing in European vehicles in a domestic-dominated automotive industry.
While she runs into occasional challenges handling heavy car parts and the rare pessimism from a new customer, Ungeheuer notes that her reputation far outweighs any negativity she’s experienced as a female mechanic.
“For physical strength, there are certain limits, and the guys have to help me out, but to be honest with you, most people are super into it,” she said.
Ungeheuer encourages women looking to dive into the field to take the plunge and get after it.
“Ignore what everybody else thinks or what their opinions are, especially if it’s negative,” she expressed. “Focus on you, do your thing. If you like it, nobody else really matters.”
Ungeheuer remains true to herself and to her passion; That authenticity could have very well been what led to her being voted Best Mechanic in Best of Tahoe 2026, although it still came as a surprise to her.
“My best assumption is that people remember me,” Ungeheuer said. “I hope it motivates more women to just go for it.”
