A small liberal arts school in Kansas stands out as the sole provider of a bachelor’s degree in automotive restoration, equipping students with hands-on expertise to breathe new life into vintage vehicles. McPherson College, established 138 years ago and situated roughly an hour north of Wichita, runs this distinctive program that’s nearing its 50th anniversary. With around 175 enrollees, it focuses on practical trades like rebuilding engines, welding, painting, upholstery sewing, woodworking, and metal fabrication—abilities that keep classic American iron on the road and support a growing niche in the economy.
This initiative arrives at a crucial time for the U.S. workforce, where demand for skilled autoworkers surges. Projections from the TechForce Foundation indicate a need for over 85,000 new technicians each year, adding up to more than 350,000 by 2028. Classic car restoration fills a specialized gap, preserving pieces of American automotive history while creating stable, well-paying jobs that resist automation.
On campus, 23 projects hum along, from a 1956 Austin-Healey 100M Le Mans to a 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet and a 1967 Mini Cooper S. Once finished, these rides either hit the market—with sales funding the program—or join the college’s collection for displays at car shows and parades, injecting real-world economic value into education.
Students dive into every facet of the craft, starting with basics like engine assembly in courses such as TE 141. They handle tools from sewing machines to lathes, researching specs the old-fashioned way through physical manuals rather than quick online searches. This approach ensures mastery over rare, undigitized engines and components, fostering self-reliance that’s vital in an industry where vehicles are often unique.
“We’re working on the engine project or whatever. And they’ll ask me, ‘well, what of this torque or what are these specs?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know. Look it up.’ And so they get their phone out. I go, ‘no, no. You look it up in the manual, look it up in a book.’ These cars are one of a kind,” said Curt Goodwin, the engine professor.
The program’s emphasis on heritage trades sets it apart from standard auto tech training, which often prioritizes modern vehicles. “We consider the skills that we’re teaching heritage skills. So they are not things that students are learning in shop class, if there’s even a shop class in their school anymore. And so, from the woodworking to the hand fabrication of metal, all of the hand sewing of seats, things like that, these are all skills that are disappearing,” explained Amanda Gutierrez, vice president for automotive restoration and engineering. Such training bolsters American economic resilience by reviving lost crafts that fuel restoration shops, museums, and private collections nationwide.
5 decades, my arse,