Endangered Skills Program Receives Funding

January 31, 2025

The RPM Foundation’s Endangered Skills series is an educational documentary program dedicated to preserving and sharing the vanishing crafts essential to the restoration and preservation of historic vehicles. These rare and highly specialized skills represent the intersection of art, history, and engineering, and they form an integral part of our shared cultural heritage. As these craftspeople retire or pass on, their knowledge, often developed over decades, is at risk of being lost forever. The Endangered Skills series ensures these invaluable skills are not only preserved but also made accessible to future generations. 


Through support from the Hagerty Drivers Foundation and individual donors, I’m proud to announce that we have raised the funds necessary to record the first three episodes of this series! We will begin shooting this February, with our first Subject Matter Expert, Dr. Gundula Tutt. Future episodes will feature masters of the crafts of multi-carburetor engine tuning, babbitt bearing formation, gauge rebuilding, and other endangered skills. These Masters will be paired with RPM Apprentices, and their process of instructing the apprentice will be recorded for future generations to learn these important skills. 


The work we do at RPM Foundation goes far beyond the vehicles themselves—it’s about nurturing a culture that values history, craftsmanship, and innovation. By investing in young people, we’re not only ensuring the future of vehicle restoration but also inspiring a new generation to see the artistry and importance in preserving our past. Every apprentice, every student team, and every craftsperson we support represents another step toward keeping this culture alive.


While we are now funded for the first three episodes, you can keep this series alive with a contribution today. We appreciate your donation of any amount as we work to not just restore cars, but car culture and hands-on skills too!


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By RPM Foundation • June 17, 2025
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