THE WRECK DEBUTED at Grant Field on Sept. 30, 1961, for a Tech football game vs. Rice University. It has led the team onto the field every home game since.
WRECK DRIVERS get to select their own hood ornament—either the quail or the wreath (with or without wings)—and keep it as a memento of their tenure.
WHILE THE INSTITUTE officially calls the car the Ramblin’ Wreck (with a W) to keep it consistent with the term used in Tech’s Fight Song and to describe the student body, the student Reck Club uses the original Reck spelling (with an R) to keep it unique and true to its history.
THE 1930 MODEL A FORD has no turn signals but does have working brake lights. FRESHMEN ARE NOT SUPPOSED to touch the Wreck until the end of their first year, otherwise they are cursed with bad luck and the football team is destined to lose to Georgia that season.
THE RAMBLIN’ WRECK THIS WHITE-AND-GOLD 1930 MODEL A FORD is an official mascot for Georgia Tech and has led the football team onto the field for every home game since 1961. The inspiration for the Wreck was a beat-up 1914 Model T Ford driven around campus by Dean Floyd Field in the 1920s. Students developed an affinity for the old car, which was given the moniker of the Ramblin’ Reck (without
the W) by The Technique student newspaper, and it became something of a legend on campus. In 1960, Dean Jim Dull began looking for an old Ford that could serve as a symbol for the school. One day, he saw an immaculate Ford Model A coupe parked in front of Towers Dormitory. It belonged to Delta pilot Ted Johnson, who had restored the car with his son. Johnson refused to sell
the Ford Model A at first, but Dull was relentless, and eventually convinced him to sell it to Georgia Tech. Johnson later returned the money he was paid, so that his beloved car would be a donation to the Institute. Today, the automobile is cared for and driven by the students in the Ramblin’ Reck Club, and continues to serve as a symbol for the spirit of Georgia Tech.
Volume 93 No. 1 2017 | GTALUMNI.ORG/MAGAZINE | 45