Penn College auto restoration student drives unique path

Known for its off-road prowess, the Land Rover is considered by auto enthusiasts to symbolize adventure and resilience. The same can be said of Sarah E. Crabtree. Appropriately, the Pennsylvania College of Technology student is capping her educational odyssey by restoring a classic version of the vehicle.

Crabtree, of Elizabethtown, is tackling the immersive project while earning a certificate in automotive restoration. She’s restoring her father’s 1971 Land Rover to concours condition, the highest level of restoration. The goal is to accurately represent the car’s original condition.

“This one project for Sarah fits and in some respects exceeds all the required student outcomes for the restoration certificate,” said Roy H. Klinger, collision repair instructor and co-department head. “Sarah is self-motivated and passionate about the Land Rover community.”

Except for a purchased transmission, Crabtree is rebuilding all mechanical aspects of the vehicle – including the engine and axles – and refurbishing its body and interior. She’s meticulously documenting each step.

“It’s like the crown jewel in my resume to send out to Rover shops everywhere,” Crabtree said.

Her resume is already eye-catching for its uniqueness. Six years ago, Crabtree earned a bachelor’s degree while studying pre-law. Several months later, she was an apprentice technician at a garage specializing in Land Rovers. In the middle of the four-year apprenticeship, she drove a Land Rover in the Rebelle Rally, an extreme endurance event covering 1,500 miles.

Last year, Crabtree enrolled at Penn College to align a formal education with her Land Rover fascination. That choice has left her juggling a full course load and the restoration work during the week with two weekend part-time jobs in Elizabethtown.

“I’m scraping by, but these are the golden years to do it,” she said with a laugh.

Born in Dover, Crabtree spent most of her childhood in West Virginia, where she displayed little curiosity in cars. “I’m one of seven kids, and nobody ever had a remote interest in vehicles,” she recalled. “Now I’m the black sheep.”

When Crabtree moved back to the York area for high school, she became friends with a classmate who was restoring a 1973 Land Rover. The process and the result left a lasting impression.

“I watched him do it, and when he finished, we took the car out on his property. It was just conquering everything that was in its way,” Crabtree said. “I was like, ‘Man, I got to get into this.’”

She eventually bought a 1992 Land Rover Defender, which deepened her affection for the brand, developed in England in the late 1940s. “It was the rarity of the vehicle in the United States that kind of drew me and fascinated me,” Crabtree said. “It was also the camaraderie between all the Land Rover owners. There are several clubs throughout the U.S. Everybody is so supportive.”

At this point, her Land Rover served as a method of transportation, not a means to a vocation. Instead, Crabtree eyed a career in property law. She spent four years studying pre-law at Liberty University before attending Widener University Commonwealth Law School. She dropped out after one semester at Widener.

“Law school just didn’t take. I found out that sitting at a desk and reading and writing all day wasn’t for me,” she explained. “Working with my hands comes a lot more naturally.”

That was confirmed after Crabtree asked to become an apprentice at the Elizabethtown garage where she serviced her Land Rover.

“The owner was very excited to see someone young want to get into working with Land Rovers. So, he was more than willing to help me out, even though I had no prior background in cars whatsoever,” Crabtree said.

During the next four years, she excelled with the on-the-job training, focusing on mechanical work with some restoration and body jobs sprinkled in. By the time she left, Crabtree was ordering parts, writing estimates and helping to run the three-person shop.

However, the frenetic hands-on pace didn’t lend itself to shrinking the theoretical gaps in her automotive knowledge. That’s why Crabtree decided to “take the time to learn theory.” She chose to do so by enrolling at Penn College for both automotive technology courses and the restoration program.

“It’s been awesome to learn in a formalized education setting where, if mistakes are made, there aren’t so many repercussions. I’ve learned so much,” said Crabtree, one of 18 females enrolled in an automotive-related program at the college.

The nontraditional student’s can-do attitude and work ethic have resonated with Ali Lorson, assistant dean of transportation technologies.

“Sarah is a student who consistently impresses with her intelligence, resilience and willingness to take risks. She isn’t afraid to fail, and she uses setbacks as chances to grow,” Lorson said. “Sarah always goes above and beyond, showing integrity and hard work in everything she does. She embraces challenges that help expand her skills.”

Case in point – the Land Rover restoration that consumes about 30 hours of Crabtree’s week.

“The vehicle being of British origin brings a unique aspect to our program. Every process has an element that she can learn from,” Klinger said. “For example, the British standard bolts and fasteners and the Lucas electrical system used in Great Britain allow for an element of education.”

Here’s what the 1971 Land Rover looked like back in the day …

... and this is how it appeared before Crabtree began the restoration project.

Crabtree is completing the mechanical challenges and will soon begin restoring the car’s body. That process includes repairing the metal, sanding, applying primer, painting the original base color (red with white accents) and finishing with clearcoat.

The interior will also mirror the car’s 1971 appearance. “I’m not adding any frills with touch screens, a radio or even AC,” Crabtree said. “I’m going with just what the car had: seats, a headliner, floor mats, gauges, a steering wheel and a heater.”

Once completed, Crabtree hopes her documentation of the effort will lead to a job restoring Land Rovers, preferably with a corporate facility in England. The plan is for that experience to serve as a prelude to someday owning her own Land Rover restoration garage.

Added to the wish list is Crabtree’s desire for another crack at the Rebelle Rally within the next two years. Held annually in October, the all-women, eight-day off-road event requires two-person teams to persevere in the Nevada and California desert without phones or GPS.

“It’s all paper map navigation. I had a navigator in the passenger seat who plotted the way,” Crabtree said about her experience in the 2022 Rebelle Rally. “We didn’t do amazing, but it was our first year doing anything like that. I was happy just to finish! It was definitely a lifetime experience. The inner wild child in me is chasing that high again. My goal will be to enter with the oldest car ever in the rally.”

Lorson won’t be surprised if Crabtree meets that objective along with her career aspirations.

“This girl knows what she wants and goes after it,” Lorson said. “She’s not afraid to put in the effort to achieve her goals. Sarah’s determination and positive attitude make her an inspiring role model, and I have no doubt that she will continue to achieve great things.”

To learn more about the automotive restoration certificate and other programs 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 for more informaiton.