The Man Behind the Wrench: Inside the Life of Wayne Carini

In a world where glitzy reality-TV often overshadows authenticity, Wayne Carini stands out — not as a celebrity chasing drama, but as a master craftsman quietly restoring automotive history.

Born into Restoration, Driven by Passion

Wayne Carini was born on October 13, 1951, in Portland, Connecticut, and that birthday marked the start of a lifelong affair with classic automobiles.  Growing up, his classroom wasn’t a school — it was his father’s collision-repair and auto-restoration shop. From sweeping floors for five dollars a week to later wrenching on vintage Lincolns, Packards, Duesenbergs and Ford Model As — Wayne absorbed restoration not as a job, but as a way of life.

A defining moment came when he was just nine years old: his first ride in a 1960 Rosso Chiaro Ferrari 250 SWB. That ride didn’t just thrill a kid — it ignited a passion that would steer his future.

Under the mentorship of experts like the Ferrari mechanic François Sicard (and connections through the family of legendary racer Luigi Chinetti Jr.), Wayne learned the art and discipline of exotic-car restoration.

Crafting a Brand: From Dad’s Garage to Global Recognition

After college (where he studied art education), Wayne returned to the family business and gradually transformed it into something far more ambitious. With a deep respect for craftsmanship and authenticity, he went beyond simple repair — he hunted for barn finds, rescued neglected classics, and resurrected them to showroom condition.

Today, Wayne runs multiple businesses in Connecticut:

• F40 Motorsports — a dealership specializing in buying and selling vintage automobiles.

• Continental Auto Ltd. — a high-end collision and repair shop for exotic autos. 

• Carini Carozzeria — the restoration arm where the magic happens: bodywork, paint, mechanical overhauls, and sometimes, full preservations. 

For decades, Wayne’s shops have served an elite clientele — from Hollywood stars to wealthy collectors — restoring rare cars owned by the likes of David Letterman, sports legends such as Ivan Lendl, and storied families like the DuPonts.

On-Screen: Bringing Automotive History to Living Rooms Worldwide

While Wayne’s hands were already deep in grease, his name truly became a household brand in 2008 when he began hosting Chasing Classic Cars — a documentary series that follows his journey tracking down, restoring, and sometimes reselling classic and exotic cars.

Over 17 seasons and more than 200 episodes, the show gave viewers an authentic, unvarnished look into the world of classic-car restoration — no staged drama, no manufactured conflicts, just Wayne navigating auctions, barn-finds, tight budgets, and high expectations to give vintage cars new life.

As Wayne once told interviewers: “I’m not an actor. I’m a guy who fixes cars. Don’t ask me to memorize lines … I’ll just be myself.” That raw honesty resonated and helped the show become — in its space — one of the longest continuously running car programs on television.

The Reward of Decades-Long Dedication: Estimated Net Worth & Lifestyle

Thanks to a combination of classic-car sales, high-end restorations, and a successful television career, Wayne Carini’s net worth is commonly estimated around US$20 million.

This wealth reflects more than just accumulated earnings — it represents decades of devotion to restoration, a reputation for quality, and a niche marketplace that prizes provenance, originality and artistic integrity.

Behind the Garage Doors: Family, Values, and Advocacy

Away from cameras and auctions, Wayne keeps his personal life deliberately grounded. He has been married for decades and is father to two daughters. One of his daughters was diagnosed with autism at an early age — a reality that deepened Wayne’s commitment to charitable work and advocacy for autism research.

In interviews and public appearances, he has expressed concern that without younger generations’ interest, the heritage of classic-car collecting and restoration could fade. As a result, he frequently encourages families — especially those with special-needs children — to explore classic cars as meaningful, long-term assets or even as future investments via special-needs trusts.

More Than a Mechanic: A Legacy of Preservation and Passion

Wayne Carini’s story isn’t about chasing fame. It’s about honoring history — one engine, one chassis, one car at a time. From a little boy sweeping the floor for five dollars a week, to a trusted restorer of the world’s rarest classics, his journey speaks to a blend of passion, patience, and precision.

His birthday — October 13, 1951 — marks more than just the passing of years; it’s the date when a legendary path began. And today, every restored bumper-to-bumper classic under his care, every satisfied collector who drives away in renewed glory, stands as testament to a life lived for craftsmanship, authenticity, and reverence for automotive heritage.