Master’s in Classic Motorcycle and Scooter Restoration
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in classic motorcycle and scooter restoration: 12 modules covering motorcycle history, frames and chassis, two-stroke and four-stroke engines, transmission and wheels, carburation, electrics, bodywork, trim, authenticity and workshop management, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Classic Motorcycle and Scooter Restoration — studying from New Zealand
Vehicle restoration and classic engine work in New Zealand is supported by an active enthusiast community and a well-established network of specialist workshops, particularly around the main centres. Historic vehicle registration and compliance fall under the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand promotes preservation of historic vehicles. Restoration professionals often combine fabrication, engineering and heritage conservation skills.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$19,700 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Is restoration engineering recognised by a professional body in New Zealand?
There is no specific statutory register for classic vehicle or heritage restoration engineers in New Zealand. Heritage matters can involve Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, and vehicle roadworthiness is governed by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so their value depends on the employer or client.
Where do classic restoration specialists work in New Zealand?
Work is found in independent restoration workshops, classic car dealers, museums, and specialist fabrication businesses, many clustered around the main centres. Clients and employers usually judge by workmanship and a portfolio of completed restorations. A private qualification may complement that evidence but is rarely a deciding factor on its own.
Can I study this while running or working in a workshop here?
Yes. The course is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from home in New Zealand without a student visa. Specialist courses total 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. An assigned technical tutor supports you, and fees can be paid in instalments.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the history of classic motorcycles and scooters.
Restore frames, suspension and wheels.
Rebuild two-stroke and four-stroke engines.
Tune period carburation and electrical systems.
Restore bodywork, paint and trim.
Document authenticity and manage historic registration.
Manage full restoration projects.
Who it's for
- Classic motorcycle restorers
- Vintage motorcycle mechanics
- Classic scooter specialists
- Historic motorcycle valuers
- Motorcycle collection managers
- Restoration workshop managers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into motorcycle restoration
What you'll work with
- Royal Decree 892/2013 (Spanish Historic Vehicles Regulation)
- Regulation (EU) 168/2013 (approval of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles)
- FIVA Turin Charter (principles for the preservation of historic vehicles)
- FIVA Technical Code (technical classification of historic vehicles)
- ISO 3779 (vehicle identification number (VIN))
- EN 228 (specification for automotive petrol)
- Directive 2004/42/EC (limits on VOC emissions from paints and vehicle refinishing products)
- Fusion 360
- SolidWorks
- Microsoft Access
- Agisoft Metashape
12 modules
1.1Pioneers and pre-war motorcycles1.2British post-war motorcycles1.3The Spanish motorcycle industry1.4Italian scooters and their spread1.5Japanese motorcycles of the sixties and seventies1.6Mopeds and utility motorcycles1.7Classic racing motorcycles1.8Documentary sources and catalogues1.9Clubs and marque registers1.10Workshop: historical record sheet for a Spanish motorcycle
2.1Duplex cradle, monocoque and pressed-steel frames2.2Pressed-steel scooter frames2.3Measurement and alignment2.4Tube and weld repair2.5Corrosion and fatigue2.6Frame straightening2.7Swinging arms and rear suspension2.8Girder and telescopic forks2.9Frame painting and protection2.10Practical: checking the alignment of a frame
3.1Port and rotary valve scavenging3.2Cast iron and aluminium cylinders3.3Reboring and oversize pistons3.4Built-up crankshafts and connecting rods3.5Crankcase gaskets and seals3.6Expansion chamber exhausts3.7Oil premix and separate lubrication3.8Ignition timing3.9Two-stroke carburation3.10Laboratory: rebuilding a built-up crankshaft
4.1Side-valve and OHV engines4.2Overhead camshafts4.3Chain and gear-driven timing4.4Cutting valve seats and guides4.5Dry-sump lubrication4.6Single-cylinder and twin-cylinder engines4.7Balancing and vibration4.8Valve clearance adjustment4.9Bench testing4.10Practical: rebuilding an OHV cylinder head
5.1Gearboxes and selectors5.2Wet and dry multi-plate clutches5.3Chain and shaft drive5.4Scooter transmissions5.5Spokes, rims and truing5.6Hubs and bearings5.7Single and twin leading shoe drum brakes5.8Period and modern tyres5.9Adjustments and clearances5.10Workshop: lacing and truing a wheel
6.1Amal, Dell'Orto and Mikuni carburettors6.2Jets, needles and emulsion tubes6.3Mixture and idle adjustment6.4Tanks and taps6.5Period air filters6.6Modern fuels and ethanol6.7Vapour lock and percolation problems6.8Carburettor synchronisation6.9Fault diagnosis6.10Practical: tuning a Dell'Orto carburettor
7.1Flywheel magnetos7.2High-tension magnetos7.3Dynamos and regulators7.46-volt and 12-volt systems7.5Contact-breaker ignition7.6Period lighting7.7Wiring looms and connectors7.8Discreet electronic conversions7.9Diagnosis with a multimeter7.10Workshop: restoring a flywheel magneto
8.1Pressed-steel scooter bodywork8.2Thin sheet metal repair8.3Tanks and mudguards8.4Period paint and pinstriping8.5Chrome and nickel plating8.6Polished aluminium8.7Decals and badges8.8Plastics and rubbers8.9Originality criteria8.10Case study: restoring the bodywork of a scooter
9.1Sprung seats and saddles9.2Period upholstery9.3Footrest rubbers and grips9.4Luggage racks and panniers9.5Sidecars9.6Instruments and clocks9.7Period accessories9.8Reliable reproductions9.9Parts documentation9.10Practical: re-upholstering a dual seat
10.1Frame and engine numbers10.2Factory records10.3FIVA Turin Charter10.4Royal Decree 892/2013 on historic vehicles10.5Regulation (EU) 168/2013 on L-category vehicles10.6Registration as a historic vehicle10.7Roadworthiness inspection10.8Importing classic motorcycles10.9The motorcycle dossier10.10Case study: historic registration of a classic moped
11.1Workshop organisation11.2Special tools11.3Spare parts suppliers11.4Parts manufacture11.5Quotations and planning11.6Quality and warranty11.7Marketing within the classic community11.8Events and concours11.9Profitability11.10Workshop: quotation for a full restoration
12.1Selection of the motorcycle or scooter12.2Historical research12.3Technical diagnosis12.4Intervention criteria12.5Mechanical restoration plan12.6Cosmetic restoration plan12.7Documentation and authenticity12.8Budget and valuation12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. The working software is Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Microsoft Access and Agisoft Metashape, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for rebuilding two-stroke and four-stroke engines, lacing and truing period wheels and registering historic motorcycles. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Royal Decree 892/2013, Regulation (EU) 168/2013, FIVA Turin Charter, FIVA Technical Code, ISO 3779, EN 228, Directive 2004/42/EC.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Microsoft Access and Agisoft Metashape, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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