Hagerty: The Restoration Crisis Is Building

McKeel Hagerty

09 May 2025

There are roughly 48 million enthusiast vehicles in the U.S., from supercars and American muscle to Japanese makes, SUVs, pickup trucks, and restomods. But while more and more people are into vintage rides, there are fewer and fewer people who know how to fix and restore them. Our craftspeople are retiring, often without passing along their skills. Likewise, parts are harder to come by, especially for early 20th-century cars.

I have some thoughts about how to improve this situation, but first, let me share an interview I did recently with Michael Schneider, president of McPherson College, the only U.S. school with a bachelor’s degree in Restoration Technology. In 2023, McPherson students took second-place honors at the Pebble Beach Concours for their restoration of a 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet.

One of six cars entered in the Postwar Luxury class at Pebble Beach 2023, the McPherson Mercedes took a coveted second-in-class, earning the students a trip across the reviewing stand.Evan Klein

Q: How acute is the need?

A: It’s significant, particularly as ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s cars become classics. As interest grows in “youngtimer,” RADwood, and supercar segments, the need increases.

Q: Is the shortage felt at every level, including high-net-worth cars?

A: Definitely. Collectors want seasoned technicians. We need to bridge the gap for the less experienced to learn from those with experience or the shortage will continue.

Q: What is the worst-case scenario if skills are not passed on?

A: We will see fewer classics on the road. Our ability to develop the younger generation’s skills will be the difference between your car sitting in storage rather than at an event or on the road.

Q: How do we draw people to the field?

A: Take kids for rides in your car. Let them drive! Driving is often the spark that leads to someone going into the field. Introducing youth to our collections and events is critical.

Q: What is the role of McPherson College in meeting the need?

A: We want to expand our expertise in the industry by exposing students to modern classic projects. We also plan to grow our capacity to meet industry demand, not just in the sheer numbers of graduates but also in additional technical areas like mechanical engineering, which will be part of our automotive program in fall 2025. The car is at the center of our campus, but we need the continued support of collectors and others in the industry so we can be the pipeline to keep our cars running.

The pipeline is crucial, as I know all too well. Recently, Tony, a mechanic friend of mine, was trying to resuscitate a 1937 Packard V-12 that needed a third gear synchronizer, an obscure part—and a complex one to remanufacture. After weeks of calling his sources around the country, he found one, which was serving as a paperweight on the source’s desk. Tony said, “Sometimes you get lucky.”

While that’s a charming anecdote, it’s also a bit sad. As a community, we can do better than rely on happenstance or weeks of searching to fix and maintain our beloved cars.

Michael Poehlman

Let’s crowdsource this scarcity problem—both in terms of parts and expertise. If you know of a go-to mechanic, machinist, restorer, fabricator, or upholsterer with irreplaceable skills, or a reliable parts procurer like Tony’s friend, let me know at mhagerty@hagerty.com. Please include your thoughts on what skills and trades you think are most at-risk in the classic-car world. Maybe we can figure out a way to capture the knowledge before it fades away. Maybe there is a shop or a skill that can be matched with an eager young entrepreneur on the rise, a skill set that can be recorded and preserved. Help us map out a path.

If we get enough useful suggestions, I will do my best to find a way forward.

Until next time, keep on driving!

This story first appeared in the May/June 2025 issue of Hagerty Drivers Club magazine. Join the club to receive our award-winning magazine and enjoy insider access to automotive events, discounts, roadside assistance, and more.