Featured on Wayne Carini’s Chasing Classic Cars, Automobile Magazine, and most recently on Dennis Gage’s My Classic Car, McPherson College’s Automotive Restoration program is a one-of-a-kind program that focuses on the restoration of classic cars. The program is supported by big names like Jay Leno, Paul Russel, and Craig Jackson, and more recently the Ferrari Club of America.
The restoration program started in 1976 after a man named Gaines H. “Smokey” Billue donated 125 classic cars to the school to fund it. 21 years later, the program gained the attention of classic car collector and host of The Tonight Show, Jay Leno. Leno, “established the Fred S. Duesenberg Scholarship and the Jay Leno Popular Mechanics scholarship” (McPherson College). These scholarships were awarded to students who excelled in the program to assist the students with their finances along the way. Now, in the 42nd year of the program, the school has connections spanning across the globe. These connections provide scholarships, internships for students, and an endless number of student experiences.
Beginning in 2003, with grants and donations from Mercedes-Benz, the program took a big leap forward. The program moved from a 2-year degree, to the only Bachelors Degree of it’s kind.
Resting in Templeton Hall on the eastern end of campus, students partake in classes that range from the bottom of the tire to the paint on the roof (with the exception of making the tires themselves and bending and cutting the glass). Students learn hands-on skills in 8 labs within Templeton Hall. The labs include sheetmetal, woodworking, drivetrain/chassis, machining, paint, trim, and assembly. The degree is offered in five different paths including; business, communications, design, history and technology. All students in the program are required to take core classes that span throughout all areas of a restoration. In addition, depending on the path the students decide to follow, they take additional classes that focus on their path. All in all, every student the graduates from the program has the general knowledge and skills to perform a full restoration of a vehicle, but also has experience in business, communication, design, history, etc.
McPherson College has built a network of connections across the world. These connections provide funding for the students or the program, internships in the summers, experiences at events like the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and careers for the students post graduation. Most students take at least one internship within their time at the school. Internships are often at restoration shops near the students’ homes, but many students also partake in internships at museums, auction companies, media companies and many more. Each summer the students spread across the country, and even the world. Proven with a 98% job placement rate within three month after graduation, it is hard for a student not to get a career after attending McPherson College.
Sign up for a visit today by visiting McPherson College’s website (McPherson College Website) and clicking “Visit MC.” Or attend one of four Automotive Restoration Visit Days each year (MC Visit Days). Follow McPherson College Automotive Restoration on Facebook and Instagram.
Vintage Car Guy 