Mechanical Arts

06/03/2026

It was a bit of a full-circle moment seeing this 1968 Jaguar XKE roll into the shop this morning.

Back when I was in middle school, I mowed the lawn for the gentleman who restored this car. By then he had already sold it to another local owner, but knowing I was a car-obsessed kid, he was always telling me stories about the Jaguar and showing me the photo album documenting its restoration. Over the years, I’d spot it at local car shows and occasionally see it out on the road, so having it here at Mechanical Arts today was especially rewarding.

This time, she’s in for a fresh set of tires to get her ready for another season of summer driving. It’s always a pleasure to work on cars with a story, and even more so when that story connects to your own.

06/02/2026

In our line of work, it’s not often that a project comes through the shop and is completed in a single day, and it’s even rarer for one to be diagnosed, repaired, and back on the road in just a few hours, so it’s always a nice change of pace when it happens!

This handsome little 1955 Triumph TR2 is no stranger to Mechanical Arts and has received quite a bit of attention here over the years. This time, the issue was a charging system problem. After some diagnosis, we found poor electrical connections at the generator and a voltage regulator that needed cleaning and adjustment. With those issues corrected, she’s charging properly and back on the road where she belongs.

We greatly appreciate our long-time customers and the trust they place in us to care for their vintage automobiles. Whether it’s a major restoration or a quick repair, we’re always happy to do what we can to keep these wonderful machines in top condition.

05/29/2026

I was honored to be part of the Owls Head Transportation Museum Winter Lecture Series, where I had the chance to share a bit about myself, Mechanical Arts and one of my favorite projects.

If you weren’t able to attend, you can watch the full talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L-Fa8UjxSs

Big thanks to OHTM for the invite and to everyone who came out!

What does it take to turn a childhood fascination with mechanics in...

05/27/2026

Come along for a ride in this stunning 1928 Packard Speedster, freshly finished and ready for the 2026 Great Race!

This incredible car was thoroughly prepped and dialed in to take on one of the toughest vintage endurance events in the country, and we’re excited to finally share it out on the road.

For a more in-depth look at how we prepared this Packard for the event, check out our previous video covering the build and rally prep process.

We’re also looking to add an experienced automotive restorer to our team. If you’re passionate about high-level vintage restoration work and want to work on cars like this every day, we’d love to hear from you!

05/21/2026

Some of you may remember this ‘36 Ford Ambulance we had in the shop over the winter. A very unique car with a great story, she’s now on display at Owls Head Transportation Museum

05/13/2026

This 1928 Packard will be taking on the Hemmings Motor News Great Race this summer!

In this video, I give a little insight into what it takes to prepare a car of this vintage for such a grueling event. Reliability, drivability, serviceability are all incredibly important when you’re asking a nearly 100-year-old automobile to cover great distances while remaining competitive in this time-distance rally.

Events like this are the ultimate proving ground for these historic machines, and we’re excited to get this Packard ready for the challenge!

05/05/2026

We’re Hiring! We need an experienced Antique Auto Mechanical Restoration Technician!

We’re a small, highly specialized vintage and antique auto shop on the coast of Maine, focused on thoughtful, meticulous preservation, repair, and restoration of classic and antique vehicles across a wide range of makes, models, and eras.

Over the last few years our workload has grown steadily, to the point where we’re booked out with a deep backlog and can barely keep up with the projects already on the schedule. We’re looking for another experienced technician so we can better serve the clients and cars already in the pipeline.

What We’re Known For:
- Careful, methodical diagnostic work
- Respecting originality and making smart, period-appropriate upgrades where they make sense
- Mechanical restoration: engines, drivetrains, suspension, brakes, and steering
- The full spectrum of maintenance, preservation, and detail work
- Coachwork and fabrication
- Full nut-and-bolt restorations
- Running support on various rallies and tours

We are a small, tight-knit team of five, and I (Philip) work in the shop every day. Here, you’ll see projects through from start to finish and get to know the clients and their cars. With a solid reputation and a long-term, steady backlog, this is a chance to step into stable, interesting work and have a real hand in how the shop continues to grow.

Position: Full-Time Mechanical Restoration Technician

About the Work:
You’ll be working on foreign and domestic antique cars, mostly from the 1930s through the 1970s, performing tasks such as:
- Mechanical restoration and repair (engines, drivetrains, suspension, brakes, steering)
- Electrical diagnosis and repair
- Carburetor, ignition, and fuel system service, tuning, and repair
- General troubleshooting, maintenance, and preservation work

You’ll also be involved in our full nut-and-bolt restorations and be expected to assist with the mechanical aspects of these projects and work well with our specialists on staff to move these projects forward.

Requirements:
- Minimum 5 years of dedicated antique/vintage car experience in a commercial shop setting
- Strong mechanical and diagnostic skills specific to vintage and antique vehicles
- Experience with both repair/maintenance and deeper mechanical restoration (e.g., engine rebuilding, transmission and axle rebuilding, etc.)
- Ability to work independently, take ownership of projects, and communicate clearly
- Respect for originality, craftsmanship, and period-correct solutions
- Ability to work smoothly with in-house specialists as part of a small, close-knit team

Any additional skills are a major plus, including:
- Sheet metal fabrication and welding
- Upholstery/interior skills
- Machining skills
- Paint and bodywork experience

Schedule:
- Four 10-hour days: Monday–Thursday
- Many overtime hours available for those who want them
(we have the backlog to support it)

Compensation & Benefits:
- Competitive pay based on experience and capability
- Company health plan with your premium 100% covered
(dependents not included)
- Company IRA retirement plan with 3% match
- Company group disability and life insurance
- Two weeks PTO per year
- 3 paid sick days per year

If you meet the requirements and are interested in preserving history and breathing new life into a wide variety of classic cars amongst the beautiful backdrop of mid-coast Maine, I want to hear from you!

Please send your resume, work history, and a brief description of your antique/vintage auto experience:
- Phone: 207-372-2071
- Email: [email protected]
- Website:

Mechanical Arts is a specialty restoration shop in St. George, Maine, focused on antique and classic car maintenance, repair, and preservation. Every vehicle is treated with patience, precision, and respect for its history.

05/03/2026

The McPherson College Auto Restoration Car Show weekend was a huge success!

We had the opportunity to display the barn-find 1962 Jaguar XKE racer we revived, and it was incredibly rewarding to see how much people appreciated both the car and its unique history. Events like this are always a great reminder of why we do what we do.

One of the highlights, as always, was reconnecting with old friends and seeing the incredible projects fellow alumni brought to share. The level of craftsmanship and dedication coming out of this program continues to impress.

It’s exciting to see the momentum at McPherson as well, they announced a massive expansion/renovation of their current auto restoration facility along with the addition of a Mechanical Engineering program. The growth of the school reflects the strength of the industry as a whole.

The future of the antique and collector car world is in very good hands.

04/29/2026

Mechanical Arts is heading west to the McPherson College Auto Restoration car show with one of our favorite projects in tow!

04/22/2026

We recently went through this 1941 Pontiac woody from top to bottom, dialing in all its systems so it performs just as good as it looks.

In this video, we’re highlighting a few small under-the-hood details that can make a big difference in how these old engines run.