Wheel nice: Restoration students go for a spin at classic car college

HERSHEY, Pa. – Young people are learning to work on old cars.

When Penn College of Technology revved up its vintage vehicle restoration major in 2012, it became one of just a handful of degree programs around the country teaching teens and 20-somethings how to help refurbish and maintain North America’s fleet of more than 10 million classic cars.

Experts worry vital skills like metal shaping and upholstering might be lost unless a new generation is enticed into the field.

The multibillion-dollar industry recognizes the problem of its aging workforce and has been throwing money at training programs and scholarships.

The efforts are beginning to pay off. The Penn College program and others like it are growing.

Students recently found themselves competing against the pros at The Elegance in Hershey, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of antique automobiles.