Apprentices to restore classic Lancia

Eight apprentices working at Classic Motor Cars will tackle a nut and bolt restoration of a classic car – helping to make sure that the skills we need to safeguard the future of our hobby are passed on.

The apprentices at Shropshire-based CMC will be given the chance to rebuild a 1955 Series 4 Lancia Aurelia and learn the complete restoration process.

They will strip the Lancia and then assess what needs to be replaced, restored or remade. They have been given 14 months to complete the restoration of the car.

CMC chairman Peter Neumark said, ‘We carry out restorations for customers around the world, but as far as we know this is the first time that apprentices in the UK have been given the opportunity of restoring a car from scratch themselves.’

He added, ‘Apprentices are extremely important in the world of classic cars, which is worth several billion pounds to the UK economy every year.

'It is essential that they learn the skills to keep classic vehicles on the road. We are proud of the fact that currently we have one apprentice for every ten members of our workforce.’

Local Ludlow MP Philip Dunne said, ‘This is a really great project for these six young apprentices, who will be restoring a classic car, from start to finish.’