At a time when there is a shortage of personnel, waiting lists and an overstrained labor market, it was inevitable: the news about a lack of good mechanics for classic cars. It has been known for years that the specialist professions are disappearing more and more, and the technology is increasingly being taken over by electronics. The NOS news and other media paid attention to the phenomenon, and exclaimed that the future of old-timers is in danger.
The current status of the classic is regularly underestimated. The number of events has grown after Corona, during the lockdowns there was a run on classics, and prices rose across the board. This is especially true for the classics that used to be everyday cars. In addition, the classic file is stable. Moreover, it is very premature to talk about the classic (or as the NOS called it: the roaring old-timer, certainly no positive connotation). A pre-war classic car is something different than an Amazon, a Fiat 600 or a Beetle. Or a 1985 Nissan Cherry.
Do not panic
Certainly in the short term there is no reason to panic. Clubs and associations regularly organize key days and workshops (on maintenance, restoration and sheet metal working). There are coffee mornings where owners (read: club members) exchange their experiences. There are plenty of companies that specialize in the maintenance of specific or all classics and youngtimers. They too have to deal with scarcity and personnel being bought away. That is not specifically reserved for the industry, but a national problem that dominates the news sections.
Scarcity of technical personnel not only in the old-timer industry
Unfortunately, this does not alter the fact that the supply of personnel specialized in old-timers does not remain. That has been the case in the industry for years. This has to do with, among other things, educational choices and the perception of this. Changing techniques also play a role, less attention is paid to this aspect within current education than in the more distant past. Moreover, courses are increasingly geared towards tertiary, office work, ICT, management and economics.
Technical education status deserves more recognition
The (primary and secondary) courses for traditional technical professions are subordinate to this, also in terms of status. And this development does pose a problem for the growth of technicians (across the board, within many professional groups), which has been going on for years. But the NOS picked out the combination of old-timer future and staff shortage. It fits -intentionally or unintentionally- into the picture of environmental sentiment, which also lives among the major news editors. And if you do worry: old-timer owners drive an average of 1500 kilometers per year with a classic. The CO2 footprint is therefore fairly low. But that aside.
Increasing interest among young people
There is no reason for pessimism anyway. Those who regularly tour the event grounds come across more and more young classic fans and owners these days. This youthful blood group regularly surprises you with its technical interest in and knowledge of classics. Moreover, the love for classical music is often passed on from generation to generation. That fact cannot be underestimated.
Continuous attention to conventional technology within the school program
Of course, caution is advised. From a training perspective, conventional (read: historical) technology must become or remain a fixed component of technical education programmes. In order to safeguard knowledge, it is important that educational institutions do not only work with specialized companies. A wonderful partnership can also be established between the interest groups and the educational institutions.
Technical knowledge also important for the long term
In any case, technical knowledge is important, also for the regular fossil vehicle fleet that will not disappear from the streets after 2030. The year is no more than a means to move the motorist towards 'electricity'. It should be clear that this is an unfeasible card for several reasons (raw materials scarcity, EV pricing, poor infrastructure).
Perspective for budding engineers
The electrical message may be the reason for budding technicians to opt for specialized training as a mechanic less often. All-round courses with a broad program and a lot of practical attention (from classic to modern technology) are important for the mobility sector (and therefore also the old-timer industry). There will also be no shortage of demand for technical personnel in 2030. And if the heritage gets or keeps a protected status (also in the tax area), then employment in the sector so beloved by us all will be good too.
Owners play an important role
The NOS editors overlooked another extremely important aspect. Many owners of a classic car are perfectly able to maintain, repair and/or embellish the classic car themselves. This is a phenomenon that is greatly underestimated and is regularly passed on from generation to generation. The supporters of self-reliant owners are of great importance and form a foundation for the future of the old-timer. And this is also therefore less gloomy than the NOS editors brought out in the press bulletin.
Hands in one, for short and long term
Nevertheless, a nice assignment is ready. Experts by experience, training institutions, interest groups, brand clubs, politicians and the industry must work together intensively in all areas. This foundation has been around for a long time. And the classic is still popular. That is why one has to forge the iron to stop any discussion about the future of the old-timer and the industry. For the short term and for the long term.
Journalists are worriers who, as freelancers, have to try to sell their stories. Sensation (crisis, exaggeration, a bit of the truth) helps with that. Because there are a lot of journalists and quite a few really important news to report. In short, you are "for sale" for every news item.
I would like to say to every journalist: stop with this idiocy/exploitation and find a profession that actually brings you happiness. We know in which corner such a profession is 😉
We all know that the NPO is simply the mouthpiece of D 66 and her/his cronies, who forces all kinds of unholy things on us. I am still in the fortunate circumstance that I live in Germany and it is still possible to live somewhat fairly liberally there. And now it appears that electric driving is decreasing again. After all, the sales figures of electric cars are rightly declining again. a. because of the range. This is especially true for holidaymakers on the road. b. our electricity grid is slowly bursting at the seams, so charging becomes almost impossible. c. energy prices are rising to such an extent that charging is now almost more expensive than filling up with fuel. By the way, enough initiatives are now being launched to train mechanics for the old technology again, so I'm not worried about that either. I'm more concerned about the unreliable government that splits all kinds of fake news in our stomach. Keep on motoring and have a good weekend
D(19)66? Don't talk to me about it.
Isn't it nice that there are not enough professionals to restore old-timers for third parties?
It should be over with showing off other people's feathers.
Or you drive an oldtimer and have the associated dirty hands, welding eyes or worse,
or you drive a Tesla and think you're saving the world.
Hans
(Recently I was standing at an open bridge behind such a Tesla with the Puch. I had turned off my engine myself, but the party lights of the Tesla were on full blast.)
Oh yes, people who are complaining to NOS, go and live in America, there it goes
all fantastic.
There are a number of sensible comments about the oldtimer and everything that moves around it.
Something completely different is the series of slogans about the NPO, NOS and even the accompanying weather forecast (can the RTL or SBS weather forecast be trusted climatically?), the amount of comments and the nature of these make it more of a 'no trust in all kinds of institutions/government' has become an exchange of old-timer thoughts.
This afternoon I will pick up my old-timer again.
I doubted whether I should respond to the article, but the many reactions above me make me do it anyway, at the risk of being run over by the shit cart.
I hear a lot of opinions about the NOS. About propaganda and other slogans, I know that the NPO leans rather to the left, but we still have freedom of the press in the Netherlands and regardless of what the report during the NOS news (during the cucumber season) did not say, there was nothing to be lied about. Apparently many people have responded above without having seen the report themselves.
I also share the opinion of many that it is an advantage if you are self-reliant as a vintage car owner and that the shortage of technical personnel does not affect everyone, but it does indicate that the personnel shortage is a major problem in all branches, but I think this shortage for an industry that is concerned with someone's hobby, less bad than the shortage in care that my wife has to deal with every day.
But let me keep it objective; I am concerned for the longer term as a classic car owner and enthusiast. If it is not due to faltering government policy, the fuel prices in the future will play tricks on me (us) in the future. Aside from the pollution, the dependence on less democratic regimes for the supply of petroleum and the declining need for petrol in the future will make the liter price so high that you can keep your old-timer, but driving becomes an expensive hobby.
My fear is therefore that we do have a problem as classic car owners, but unfortunately I hear too many negative reactions in this world.
Oh yes, and don't get me started on e-fuels, that might be a solution, but that too is greenwashing and the price per liter of that stuff will not be good either.
One more thing with this one.
I always enjoy reading the columns of Maria, Jouke and Erik. They are fun and interspersed with (past) anecdotes and usually put a smile on my face.
But Erik's column in the June no. 6 issue missed the mark. Correction; almost completely wrong
I have rarely read such a tendentious and inaccurate column. Apart from a few things like the tax regime regarding electric cars, which I agree with Erik, there was so much incorrect information, or should I say outdated information, that I thought; either he googled old studies, or he wanted to write a piece that would go down well with the average old-timer owner.
I am prepared to climb on the scaffold, perhaps during a readers' evening, to give a presentation about electric mobility and to point out all the pros and cons, the editors are happy to do something with it.
By the way, I don't drive an electric car yet because I always save for a next car first and by the time I have saved the money together there will probably be something useful.
In conclusion, I also enjoy my oldtimer every week, especially the tinkering gives me satisfaction and those thumbs up, that's what we do it all for!
I see it this way: owning a classic car and being able to drive a classic is a luxury and 'we' are privileged to be able to enjoy the joys of it. However, the enjoyment is finite, if not due to legislation including environmental zones or due to the no longer (affordable) availability of fuel or the delivery of parts. Let's enjoy it while it lasts. Humans have been walking around on this planet for almost 100.000 years and we have the privilege of living in just that small part of it where all this was possible and reality.
Thank you for your critical response. With regard to the column in AMK 6-2022, you are doing the undersigned far too short. Both in terms of intention (read: my integrity) and in terms of (intensive) preparation on my part, there is a difference compared to your idea. If you don't agree/didn't agree with the story, that's another thing. That is always possible in my opinion. Let's keep it that way.
As far as I'm concerned, you forward your findings to the editor-in-chief (substantive). Then your vision will reach me. I will look into that with genuine interest. The address of the editor-in-chief is: redactie@amklassiek.nl
Thank you in advance, and have a nice rest of the weekend.
Yours faithfully,
Erik van Putten
Leo Derksen once wrote: “Every now and then I pray for a whirlwind, for that whole mess in Hilversum.
blow away in one fell swoop” That was the NOS, who considered themselves “The Treasury of Culture”.
Leo went on to write, and what comes out of that treasury? Brammetje horlepiep and Pipo.
Then it could just be written. The NOS? I don't want to ruin my evening.
Good article Eric,
Bass.
Wasn't Pommetje Horlepiep??
Regards,
Peter.
The question is whether you should pay any attention to the coverage of our National Propaganda Broadcaster at all. What fascinates the NOS oldtimers? At most, they have higher emissions per kilometer than a Tesla. That is why they are 'threatening'. That's why they have to leave. And that it goes faster if you talk the owners down.
But a little classic driver is not at all impressed by that. What interests him more is how long he can fill up on juice that can pass for gasoline.
That said, yes the classic techno knowledge is on the decline. The maintenance of classic cars is not a revenue model that will quickly turn you into a capitalist. In contrast to a job as 'sustainability manager'.
My current mechanic hopes that he can find another interested young person who can take over the position from him. Young people – with fewer and fewer exceptions – no longer know what you are talking about with the word 'choke' or 'carburetor'. At most they know how to 'turn on a car'.
Dear editors,
You are quite right to write:
Many owners of a classic car are perfectly able to maintain, repair and/or embellish the classic car themselves. This is a phenomenon that is greatly underestimated and is regularly passed on from generation to generation. The supporters of self-reliant owners are of great importance and form a foundation for the future of the old-timer.
I firmly believe that if we give owners of classic cars more knowledge of the technology of their own car, we can secure the future of our classic cars. This is precisely the reason why I focus with my company Classic Car Support on teaching people to tinker with their own car. Simply because I know from experience how nice it is to be able to keep your own car in good condition, and therefore to be able to enjoy it to the fullest.
If you are interested in more information: http://www.classiccarsupport.nl
Yours faithfully,
Gerben Batstra
I used to watch Nos news when I was young, but now that I have become a bit more sensible I no longer watch that propaganda TV.
Thinking for yourself and technically proficient in your oldtimer, whether or not together with like-minded people, gives much more joy than listening to that increasingly unfounded negative talk that the media spews out!!
Nos is mood making, influencing your mind. Eea fed by our government.
Just do your thing and don't be scared by false statements, be happy!
the NOS always leaves the government behind when it comes to the environment, the weather forecast can also help. Oh it will be hot tomorrow, do you see the warming due to the CO2 and nitrogen emissions….
you used to have a warm summer 🙂
I don't take it seriously anymore but I'm afraid a number of people will be affected by this.
have fun with the oldtimer hobby!
You do not go to the bicycle repair shop to fix a tire on your bicycle. Lack of your upbringing. Sad. My daughter was six when I punctured a tire in front of her nose. And now paste. She's going to tackle that hole herself, just like wiping her ass.
I have therefore given tape splicing as an example.
I also install my central heating, plumbing and electricity myself, also learned myself because I don't want to wait years for a professional.
As far as old-timer maintenance is concerned, I also like to go to a specialist once in a while, but then it is more for the nice contacts than for the car.
The NOS message must therefore be seen in the vein of voting against everything that is not electrical. You can therefore read their message as: Watch out people, definitely don't buy an old-timer, because ... oops ... difficult ...
Now when I see how much you have to beg on your knees to get a plumber to your home who can be paid at a lawyer's rate, or the rate that a simple bicycle mechanic works on to fix a simple tire, the future really lies in this kind of technical professions.
The NOS message should rather be: Learn a real trade and your sandwich is baked for your further career.
Less than 10 years ago, the diesel engine was canonized by the government, so if they now canonize electrically, then you probably know enough.
I am certainly not worried about the future of my old-timers, although my technical possibilities are rather limited.
Totally agree Peter, thanks for the response.
Dear Peter,
I completely agree with your story and to make it short, I am in any case available via AMK (if with permission) for all lovers of Wankeltechniek with my knowledge, if there are any problems or questions, also from Honda Motors period 1981 - 2004 I do know some details.
Dear Harald,
What a great initiative, hopefully it will be followed by others and there will be a sounding board somewhere for technical knowledge and parts. Of course I secretly hope for AMK
I myself have just purchased a Peugeot 203 which I will have technically fully fit 200 km further before I start the restoration. My 1959 Cadillac is also a multi-year process, making the via-via contacts necessary to keep things moving. The contacts are now more fun than the end result.
Renting a driveway now and then is now also more of an issue due to the lack of the right specialist in my street. Better to drive 200 km and well done, than a smurf who mismasters my classic.
I therefore wholeheartedly grant real specialists their bread, so that they remain motivated and look for successors for the future.
But that doesn't make the hobby any less fun, on the contrary.
your initiative has my full support