Automakers help collectors bring vintage cars to life with 3D printing

AUTONOMOUS cars may be on the way but it won’t replace the thrill of driving a car for enthusiasts - especially those who love vintage cars. Vintage cars, a collector’s item, sell for millions of dollars every year - with some vintage Porsche, Mercedes, and Ferrari models fetching nearly US$50 million each. However, at the bottom end of the market, there are plenty of car-enthusiasts who own now vintage cars that have been handed down to them from their parents or grandparents and aren’t in running condition because parts aren’t available. And automakers understand this. As a result, with 3D printing - also known as additive manufacturing - coming of age and becoming more reliable, automakers are starting to use the technology to breathe new life into vintage cars.