A successful classic-car restoration starts with a vision. For Rutledge Wood and his team—who are now working with eBay to restore a ’67 Mustang Fastback in the coming months—collaboration is the key. (Learn more about “On The Road With eBay Motors.”)
“I’m doing this build with my friends K.C. Mathieu and Mike Finnegan,” said Rut. “We all come from different parts of the automotive spectrum.” Rut explained that Mike likes to put a new spin on old car traditions with outrageous builds, while K.C. is known for his extensive restoration skills and exquisite custom paint work.
While Mike Finnegan (left), Rutledge Wood (center), and K.C. Mathieu (right) differ on optimal footwear, they instantly agreed on the transmission best suited for the fastback project.
Rut is synthesizing those traditions into what promises to be a unified and completely original vision. “The best word to describe what we’re going to build is rowdy,” he said.
Considering the Mustang’s rich legacy in racing and as a movie car, the expectations are high. What is Rut’s recipe? “We threw in drag racing, rally cross, IMSA, and even a bit of drifting to make it stand out,” he said. “There are purists that say if a 64-1/2 doesn’t have hubcaps, you’re doing it wrong.” This build doesn’t aim to be a 100-point restoration. It’s a raucous restomod.
Rut will use eBay Motors to buy all the components—a strategy for holding the line on costs. “There are lots of different levels of parts available, many of which can deliver on our vision,” he explained. The scale of the eBay Motors marketplace is unparalleled, with three automotive parts or accessories sold every second on eBay.
Critical Consideration: The Engine
For the eBay fastback project, too much might be just enough. K.C., a Texan with a fondness for high-output engines, challenged Rut to produce a car with at least 750 horsepower. “That made us all laugh, but it’s really a high bar,” said Rut. “Of course, we all want a car that puts a smile on our face.”
Rut considered some unconventional power plants, like the RB26DETT jammed into the engine bay of the infamous Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift ’67 Fastback (driven by Tanner Foust, Rutledge’s Top Gear co-host). “I thought about the 2JZ because I am a Toyota guy,” said Rutledge. “But heads would explode if we put in a twin-turbo Supra engine into a Mustang.”
With the body down to metal, you can see it’s solid and straight. There’s a minimal amount of Bondo.
When it came to choosing a manual or automatic, there was an instant consensus. “We counted to three and shouted out the transmission we wanted,” said Rut. “All three of us immediately said, ‘Manual.’” Will it be a five-speed or six-speed? That’s to-be-determined, but Rut is leaning toward a Tremec TKO 600, although it could be a TKO 500.
So Many Great Choices
The aftermarket support for Mustangs is massive. “There are millions of parts and accessories we could consider,” said Rut. “If we wanted to use a Muncie M22 Rock Crusher four-speed transmission, we could do that. If we wanted to use a GM power plant with a blower, that’s possible. Having so many parts just a click away on eBay makes it easy to have cool stuff.”
The right set of aftermarket wheels and tires defines a car. Size and stance are key. “It will not have 22s on it and it won’t have hubcaps,” he said. “Diameter wise, I feel like we’re going to come in at 15 or 16 inches, but that’s the only hint I want to give you.”
Rut’s wheel and tire fitment sketch suggest that the team might turn the car into some kind of Battle-Stang by lifting it and armoring it for off-road use. But that’s a wild guess. Rut reeled in rumors by revealing that he wants the wheels to be a combination of period-correct, old-school, and racing-inspired. “It will not have an all-stock feel on the wheel and tire setup,” he said. “Think about how many cool wheel combos there are out there, from Cragars S/S and Keystone Raiders to Hallibrands.”
We will get our first up-close and personal look at the fastback’s suspension and brakes at the Carlisle Ford Nationals in Carlisle, Penn., this coming weekend on June 2 to 4.
We hope to see you there. But if you can’t make it, you can follow reports on the ’67 Mustang’s progress on this blog or via social media:
