The Tucker No. 1013 restored by the Penn College students was one of several used in the film. The car is owned by Patricia B. Swigart, president of the William E. Swigart Jr. Antique Automobile Museum in Huntingdon and a longtime supporter of the college’s automotive restoration program. She also owns the Tucker prototype, dubbed “Tin Goose.” In 2018, Penn College students preserved and presented the prototype at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, often referred to as the “Super Bowl of car shows.”
It was at another prestigious showcase, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in Florida that Ty learned about the Penn College automotive restoration program. Klinger and his students were on hand with an award-winning 1908 Studebaker electric car. Ty and his dad were also at the event and met the Penn College contingent.
“Since then, the program had been in the back of my mind,” Ty said. “Penn College is one of the only schools with a restoration program. I toured a few of them, and this place had the best facility. I knew Roy was a good guy and really skilled at what he does. And I knew some graduates from here. It seemed like the right place.”
Ty’s tinkering on cars dates to early childhood. His dad was big into drag racing, and Ty remembers helping him repair an “always broken” Fox Body Mustang and rebuild a 1932 Ford Hot Rod. In high school, Ty drove a 2005 Porsche Cayenne Turbo. “It had over 200,000 miles. Everything always broke, but it was sweet,” he said.
Growing up, Ty knew of his family’s connection to Preston Tucker, but it wasn’t until high school that he truly appreciated the link. “When I told people there was a car named after my great-great grandfather, they were like, ‘That’s not normal,’” Ty recalled. “I was like, ‘Yeah, maybe this is cool!’”
After earning his collision repair degree and working in the field for about 18 months, Ty decided to pursue restoration work and enrolled in Penn College’s program. “I like working on old stuff because of how unique it is,” he explained. “The stuff today is all very similar.”
He’s due to earn his automotive restoration certificate in May and plans on obtaining a bachelor’s degree in automotive technology management at the college before embarking on a career in the restoration field. “The eventual goal is to have a shop on my own with my dad and work on Tuckers,” he said.
While realizing that objective might be a few years away, Tucker is grateful for Penn College’s role in preparing him.
“You’re not going to get a program like this anywhere else. It’s been beyond my expectations,” he said with a broad smile. “Nobody else gets to work on stuff we get to work on.”
Such as a car that bears his name.
For information on automotive restoration, collision repair technology and other majors offered by Penn College’s School of Engineering Technologies, call 570-327-4520.
Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education. Email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.