FOR THE FIRST TIME BRITISH APPRENTICES WILL RESTORE A CLASSIC CAR FROM START TO FINISH

January 10, 2016 by Classic Motor Cars

For the first time ever in the UK a nut and bolt restoration of a classic car is to be undertaken by apprentices who are serving their time at a Shropshire company

MP for Ludlow and Minister of State for Defence Procurement Philip Dunne has unveiled the first car ever to be fully restored by apprentices in the UK.

The eight apprentices are all employed by Classic Motor Cars Ltd (CMC), one of the world's premier restoration companies based in Bridgnorth, and will be given the chance to re-build a 1955 Series 4 Lancia Aurelia and learn the complete restoration process.

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

Mr Dunne said: 'It is great news that Shropshire apprentices will become the first in the UK to undertake a complete restoration of a classic car.

'I am pleased Bridgnorth's Classic Motor Cars is committed to training apprentices, giving local school-leavers the chance to build knowledge, acquire practical skills and improve their job prospects for the future. Employers also benefit from apprenticeship programmes, as they can bring on the skills needed to expand their business by training young people, and can oversee training from start to finish.'

He added: 'More than 3,000 apprenticeships have been started in the Ludlow Constituency since 2010, and I hope we will see this figure continue to rise as more young people and employers gain mutual benefits.

'This vehicle restoration will be a really exciting project for all eight apprentices, so I look forward to seeing them again with the completed Lancia Aurelia next year.'

The eight apprentices are Dan Conway (23) from Bridgnorth, who is learning his trade in the body shop and leading the team; Sam Gould (23) also from Bridgnorth and Luke Adams (22) from Wolverhampton, both in the trim department; Jack Brettle (19), who is a mechanical technician from Kingswinford; Charlie Jessop (23) from Dudley in the paint shop; mechanical technician Marcus Nemeth (20) from Wolverhampton; electrical apprentice Tom Smallman (24); and engine builder Ben Taylor (22), both from Bridgnorth.

After unveiling the car Philip Dunne talked to apprentices about the work that they will undertake on the car, which is owned by CMC's Non Executive Director David Barzilay, from re-making body panels, rebuilding the engine, re-wiring, re-painting and re-trimming.

Dan Conway said: 'It is an exciting and unique opportunity to be able to learn as we work on the Lancia; we are really looking forward to it. It's a completely apprenticeship-based project, but we have a lot of experience on our side and the support from skilled senior managers who will mentor us through the restoration process.'

Peter Neumark, Chairman of CMC, 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 classic car from scratch themselves.

'Apprentices are extremely important in the world of classic cars, which is worth several billions 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 more than one apprentice for every ten members of our workforce.

The first step will be to strip the car completely, number all the parts and then decide a detailed plan of action. It is planned that the car will be 'ready for action' by April next year when it will return to Italy to take part in a number of events including the Vernasca Silver Flag Hill Climb.

posted on conceptcarz.com

FOR THE FIRST TIME BRITISH APPRENTICES WILL RESTORE A CLASSIC CAR FROM START TO FINISH

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