Anybody who has restored a classic car knows you can’t do it all by yourself. And yet, collaborating with fellow car-builders—who have different tastes, areas of expertise, and levels of skill—can be tricky. Now imagine restoring an iconic 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback in front of crowds of people at live events and via social media. That’s what Rutledge Wood and his crew are currently doing in the “On The Road with eBay Motors.”
Rut has been to this rodeo before. After building more than 100 cars, he has a few insights about collaboration, which he shared with the eBay Motors Blog.
Common Vision
(From left to right) Mike Finnegan, Rutledge Wood, Randy Allgood, and K.C. Mathieu, kicking back at Kenwood Rod Shop.
“We started with about 50 ideas,” said Rut, referring to his fellow builders Mike Finnegan and K.C. Mathieu, as well as the Kenwood Rod Shop, where much of the work on the fastback is taking place. “Then, we got those ideas down to about 10. Then those came down to one. There has to be some give and take.”
What do players on the team imagine when they see themselves cruising in the finished car? The key team members should have a similar answer to that question before starting to work on the car. “We have to be able to see a car in a junkyard with a tree growing through it, but still imagine taking it to the Woodward Dream Cruise,” said Rut.
K.C. Mathieu will be showing off the ‘Stang at this year’s Woodward event in Detroit on August 19th at Mustang Alley. (The next stop on the eBay tour, with Mike Finnegan, takes place on July 7 to 9 at the GoodGuys PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.)
Relationships Are Important
Some of Rut’s ideas for a build can be a little off-the-wall. That’s what makes them unique. But a truly original design means you need to know that your collaborators—whether a professional shop or a gearhead friend—are listening to your ideas and can offer suggestions, or shoot down any ridiculous flights of fancy when necessary.
“Nothing is impossible when it comes to cars,” said Rut. “Of course, there are two things that can stand between you and your vision for your vehicle. That’s time and money.”
There will be trade-offs when it comes to staying on budget and on schedule. But, according to Rut, there should be no compromise when it comes to respecting what your collaborators bring to a project and building upon a positive relationship. “Don’t forget for a second that cars are meant to be fun when we’re wrenching on them with our friends,” said Rut.
Be Ready to Slow Down
Rut behind the wheel of the stripped-down ’67 Mustang Fastback. It’s a long road to Woodward.
“We usually think our initial plan will work and then your ideas don’t pan out,” Rut said. “You might think a tire size or paint color will be cool, but it just doesn’t look right on the car.” Rut admitted that the team has already experienced hiccups with the ’67 Mustang.
When things don’t go right, you need the ability to drop down a gear and take a breath until the smile comes back to your face.
Rut believes that problems can arise when a project has too many objectives. Giving yourself the permission to slow down—and then returning to a simple, well-defined vision—allows everybody to regain their sense of fun and common purpose. “On the eBay Mustang project, we’re very fortunate to have the right group of people with K.C. Mathieu, Mike Finnegan, and Randy at Kenwood Rod Shop,” said Rut. “All of us have the same goal. We want to make a car that turns heads.”
