Technology , , ,

SOARING classic-car prices and evaporating technical expertise to maintain elderly cars has prompted two industry icons to regenerate their in-house training and parts supply for vehicles made decades ago.

Porsche and Ferrari now join Mercedes-Benz – which has an unbroken allegiance to maintaining its classic cars – in sourcing training on older models, either by sending Australian technicians to the manufacturer or by introducing factory-schooled trainers into Australian workshops.

Two Australian Porsche technicians are in Germany to retrain on working on the car-maker’s older models as part of a global move to keep the brand’s historic image alive.

Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) said the two technicians from dealer groups were part of a trial to gauge demand from owners of older models, though PCA director of public relations and motorsport, Paul Ellis, said there were obvious benefits in maintaining the know-how and expertise of earlier Porsche models.

He said that much of the experience was leaving Porsche workshops around the world as older technicians retired.

“If the signs are good and there’s demand for what the technicians bring back, then we’ll offer training to our dealer network,” he said.

“It would then be up to the dealer if they wanted to carry the cost of the training.”
The classic-car technical training by Porsche is concurrent with Ferrari offering apprenticeship training on older cars.

In the 70th year since Enzo Ferrari drove his first car out of his workshop and into iconic status, Ferrari has added dedicated training for technicians in cars older than 25 years. The Classiche courses are being made available by Ferrari Australasia Technical and attended in Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello.

Ferrari said the “growing demand for Ferrari Classic Cars (Ferrari Classiche) presented the opportunity for the Australasian dealer network to undergo specific training to become ‘Ferrari Classiche Authorised Workshops’.”

“Each Ferrari Classiche workshop will include dedicated work bays, processes, human resources and extensive training.”

Ferrari apprentices in their third year can – depending on their location – take on training modules that include the operation of magneto ignition systems, multiple Weber carburettor sets from three to six, straight-cut dog-mesh gearboxes, mechanical fuel injection and twin-point distributors.

A Ferrari Australia executive said “every member of our authorised dealer network is considered an ambassador of the Ferrari brand”.

“As such, Ferrari Technical Training is aimed at providing the team with a constantly updated set of technical skills and knowledge. Ferrari Australasia technical training courses are typically attended in Maranello.

“The courses provide technical and practical presentation of the model range, their features, systems and specificities, including workshop sessions for mechanical diagnosis, replacement of spare parts and tools.”

The ascending profiles of a Ferrari technician include: apprentice; technician; master technician; high-voltage technician; and Classiche technician.

Ferrari technicians typically undergo training in categories from product and model knowledge; mechanics and electronics; diagnostics; bodywork; aluminium chassis repair; hybrid system; and now Classiche.

 

By Neil Dowling

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