Classic cars: a new training programme has been launched in Brescia to train the next generation of experts in the restoration and enhancement of automotive heritage

The AIB Training Centre’s IFTS project, carried out in collaboration with 1000 Miglia Srl, aims to train new professionals combining traditional craftsmanship, technical skills and the culture of Made in Italy

To train new professionals capable of preserving and promoting the heritage of classic cars, combining technical skills, artisanal culture and knowledge of the “Made in Italy” tradition. With this objective in mind, the AIB Training Centre, in collaboration with 1000 Miglia Srl, is promoting a new IFTS course dedicated to the maintenance, restoration and enhancement of classic cars.

The course will lead to the qualification of “Technician for the artisanal production of Made in Italy products – Classic Car Restorer”, a highly specialised professional role designed to meet the growing demand for skills in a sector that represents an internationally recognised Italian excellence.

The project is aimed at young people under 25 who hold a school-leaving certificate (or have been accepted for their final year of secondary school) and is designed to train apprentices capable of working on the restoration and reconditioning of vintage vehicles, combining manual skills, mechanical knowledge and historical and cultural awareness.

“Thanks to our collaboration with 1000 Miglia, a symbol of historic motoring and an ambassador for Italian motoring culture worldwide, the project is set within a local context particularly rich in skills, tradition and professional opportunities linked to the sector. This has enabled us to develop a training programme deeply rooted in the local area and its productive fabric, and to offer students a practical experience that combines training and work,” says Elisa Torchiani, President of the AIB Foundation.

“Classic cars are precious and delicate objects which, as well as capturing intense passions and significant capital, constitute a cultural, historical and industrial heritage. For this reason, embarking on this training programme represents a concrete investment in a highly specialised profession, characterised by precision, expertise and sensitivity,” adds Cinzia Pollio, General Manager of the AIB Foundation.

“The launch of this project helps to further strengthen the bond between 1000 Miglia, the city and the business community of Brescia. The important collaboration established with Fondazione AIB allows us to take a real and concrete step towards the realisation of the Lombardy Historic Motoring Industry project, in which 1000 Miglia Srl proudly acts as lead partner. Through the active involvement of young people, the project aims to enhance high-level technical skills and promote the training of new professionals, effectively responding to the needs of a sector undergoing continuous technological evolution, yet still in need of custodians capable of passing on the cultural and industrial heritage represented by classic cars,” explains Aldo Bonomi, President of AC Brescia.

“Thanks to our successful collaboration with the AIB Foundation, this training project has come to fruition, enabling us to bring together the expertise of Brescia’s businesses and the experience of 1000 Miglia Srl, offering young people the opportunity to specialise in a sector where local craftsmanship is synonymous with excellence. Strengthening this supply chain means further embedding the value of the Red Arrow in the heart of our region. I would like to emphasise that training is always at the centre of our attention, particularly with the “La 1000 Miglia va a scuola” project, the third edition of which concluded just a few days ago. “During this school year, we had the opportunity to meet as many as 5,400 students from 72 schools in Brescia, the surrounding province and towns along the route,” emphasises Fulvio D’Alvia, CEO of 1000 Miglia Srl.

Those taking part in the course will acquire skills to recognise the technical and cultural value of historic vehicles, plan conservation and maintenance work, use traditional craftsmanship alongside state-of-the-art restoration tools and technologies, and select materials and processes that respect the vehicle’s authenticity.

Alongside the more technical aspects, the course will also address the themes of storytelling and the promotion of the restored vehicle, which are becoming increasingly central to the narrative of “Made in Italy” and the classic car market. The skills developed will include the use of technical drawing tools and basic CAD software, knowledge of and the ability to navigate historical registers and regulations for the registration of classic cars, and a foundation in marketing and storytelling techniques to oversee the presentation and promotion of the restored vehicle.

The design of the training modules and teaching content will be carried out in collaboration with the course’s Scientific Committee, with the involvement and supervision of 1000 Miglia Srl, which will also contribute by providing experts, assessors and consultants for specific teaching activities and professional testimonials.

The course will also be enriched by testimonials from industry professionals, meetings with restorers and collectors, and visits to leading museums and production facilities, offering students direct contact with the world of historic motoring.

Thanks to the collaboration with 1000 Miglia Srl, certain parts of the training programme may also take place in connection with the historic race, allowing students to engage directly with the organisational and technical aspects of the event and to observe at close quarters some of the stages involved in the preparation and running of the race.

“A comprehensive programme combining classroom sessions and practical activities, with modules dedicated to workplace safety, professional communication, technical English and basic mathematical skills useful for effective and informed integration into the corporate environment,” says Chiara Musatti, Director of the two AIB Training Centre sites.

A significant part of the training programme will take place directly within the company: the course includes a first-level apprenticeship contract, which allows participants to alternate between training and work in workshops and specialist organisations within the sector. Regular individual and group mentoring sessions are scheduled to monitor the motivation and well-being of the apprentices.

The course lasts a total of 12 months, comprising 200 hours of training provided by the AIB Foundation and 600 hours of on-the-job training within the company.

The course concludes with a final examination to obtain the qualification of Technician in the Artisanal Production of Made in Italy Products – Classic Car Restorer.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to work in specialist workshops, restoration firms, private collections, body shops, upholstery workshops, motoring museums and historic car clubs.