Luxury car collector Bruce Meyer has purchased a vintage 1960s Cobra, but he’s struggling to find skilled craftsmen to restore it. The restoration industry is facing long waiting lists and a dwindling workforce. Mike Regalia, a seasoned restorer who worked on Meyer’s car in the 1970s, knows firsthand the challenges of finding reliable labor.
Regalia spent months restoring the Cobra, transforming it from a dull salmon color to a striking red. He recalls hearing Elvis Presley’s death announcement over the radio while working in his garage. The King of Rock and Roll’s passing has stuck with Regalia, who will never forget that moment. Now, as he looks back on his experience, Regalia understands the gravity of the labor shortage affecting the luxury car restoration industry.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-08-08/from-porsche-to-aston-martin-classic-car-mechanics-are-a-dying-breed