During “On The Road with eBay Motors,” a five-month program that launched in May, Rut and his crew completed a ground-up restoration of a ‘67 Mustang Fastback while traveling coast to coast—showing off its transformation at five of the nation’s premier auto enthusiast events.
The concluding event was on Oct. 31 – Nov. 3 at the 2017 SEMA Show, the world’s premier event for aftermarket auto parts and accessories in Las Vegas.
Latest News
The Five-Month “On The Road with eBay Motors” Tour Concludes in Las Vegas
Nov. 8, 2017: Auto enthusiasts gathered at the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas last week got an up-close and personal look at eBay’s rebuilt 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback. The bare-bones car was purchased on eBay Motors in May—and by the end of October, it had been transformed into a one-of-a-kind rally-ready restomod.
eBay Motors Unveils Its Rowdy ’67 Mustang Fastback at SEMA 2017
Nov. 1, 2017: Racing analyst and TV personality Rutledge Wood spent several hours on the opening day of 2017 SEMA Show chatting with fans while standing proudly next to his recently rebuilt 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback. The Mustang was purchased on eBay Motors, with parts handpicked from eBay’s wide selection of parts and accessories.
Charity Auction Begins for Rutledge Wood’s Rowdy ’67 Mustang Fastback
Oct. 25, 2017: Celebrity car-builder Rutledge Wood and his crew worked feverishly in the final weeks of the “On The Road with eBay Motors” project to get their one-of-a-kind ’67 Mustang Fastback ready for its unveiling at the upcoming 2017 SEMA Show. After five months of arduous work and unbridled creativity, the car is now finished, fully polished, and heading to SEMA in Las Vegas.
See all stories about “On The Road with eBay Motors.”
About The Restoration
In Cross-Country Tour, Rutledge Wood Will Restore ’67 Mustang Fastback from eBay Motors
When a typical classic car undergoes restoration, it gets trailered from the owner’s garage to local shops and back home again. But eBay Motors in collaboration with celebrity car-builder Rutledge Wood is taking on a bigger challenge starting this month. During “On The Road with eBay Motors,” a five-month program that launched today, Rut and his crew will complete a ground-up restoration of a ‘67 Mustang Fastback while traveling coast to coast—showing off its transformation at five of the nation’s premier auto enthusiast events.
The Mustang was purchased on eBay Motors. Every component of the build will be handpicked from eBay parts and accessories.
Car enthusiasts will have a front-row seat to the restoration of an iconic car by one of the most creative and charismatic builders in the business. “It’s going to be extremely cool to build the car in stages and show people, hey, this is where we are now, and this is where the car is headed,” said Rut. The Fastback is arguably the most sought after of all Mustangs, made famous by its appearance with Steve McQueen behind the wheel in Bullitt in 1968, and as Nicholas Cage’s prized “Eleanor” in the 2000 remake of Gone in 60 Seconds.
“Everybody has a Mustang story. We’re going to create a new one with this project,” said Rut. “I’ve never built a Fastback before. I’m going to approach it the way I look at all my builds. Go faster, stop quicker, handle better, and look amazing.”
“We really tore it apart this week, pulled the fenders off, and took a close look at the frame,” said Rut. “The bones are good. Unlike bigger muscle cars of the era, Mustangs don’t have a true frame—its a sub-frame. Thankfully there’s no rust on the underside of the car. The pans and rockers are all solid.”
Rutledge, TV host and racing analyst, is well known for his affable demeanor, encyclopedic knowledge, and affinity for plaid shirts. He learned the restoration business from his father in Georgia and spent years as a NASCAR analyst for the Speed Channel before co-hosting Top Gear USA on the History Channel. Rut’s series, Lost in Transmission, appeared on the History Channel in 2016. He’s currently a motorsports reporter and NASCAR analyst with NBC Sports.
Over five months, and five cities, Rut’s squad will solve puzzles and unravel mysteries. “If you know what you’re looking at, the car tells a story,” said Rut. “You’re a detective trying to figure out its history.” The Fastback was bare bones when it was purchased on eBay Motors. The team quickly discovered that a previous owner started to turn it into a pro-street car, but didn’t finish the job.
The Tour Schedule: You Are Part of the Story
During the “On The Road with eBay Motors” tour, Rut and his crew will appear in a pop-up garage at four venues across the US, with the final unveiling of the transformed Ford Mustang Fastback in Las Vegas at the 2017 annual SEMA show. He is teaming up with automotive artist K.C. Mathieu, formerly of Gas Monkey Garage’s Fast N’ Loud, and Mike Finnegan, as seen on Roadkill and Finnegan’s Garage on YouTube.
You can follow the journey on the eBay Motors Blog, via Facebook Live check-ins , and real-time updates from Rut on social media. Or you can see various stages happen live at these locations where you can ask questions or give your input on how the car should be modified:
June 2-4: Carlisle Ford Nationals in Carlisle, Penn.
The car won’t have an engine yet, but Rut will reveal his approach to modifying the suspension and brakes.
July 7-9: Goodguys PPG Nationals, Columbus, Ohio
Rut will pass the microphone to Mike Finnegan, who will discuss the selection of the Mustang’s motor and how it mates with the transmission.
Aug 19: Woodward Dream Cruise, Detroit, Mich.
Mike Finnegan will show off the selection of wheels and tires for the fastback.
Aug 25-27: Goodguys West Coast Nationals, Pleasanton, Calif.
Rut will highlight the final interior trim installation and provide expert detailing tips and techniques.
Oct 31 – Nov 3: SEMA, Las Vegas, Nev.
The 1967 Mustang will roar across the project finish line at SEMA, the world’s premier event for aftermarket auto parts and accessories. That’s where the eBay-sourced Rut-transformed car will be put up for auction.
In partnership with Ford Restoration Parts, the 1967 restored resto-mod Mustang Fastback will be a part of key Ford exhibits at Woodward Dream Cruise (in Mustang Alley) and within the Ford booth at SEMA, where the charity auction will take place.
Good Lines
“This car has some truly good lines,” said Rut. After purchasing the Mustang on eBay, it was hauled to Kenwood Rod Shop near Atlanta where much of the restoration work will take place. “The biggest thing for a custom build is making sure that the lines in the car are aligned and true.”
Building a car—particularly a 50-year-old Mustang—on a tight schedule is a challenge fraught with detours and surprises. Rut acknowledges that he and his crew will encounter unexpected challenges. The stakes will be even higher for the “On The Road with eBay Motors” project because the process will be live and very public. “The fun part of any project is the unknown, thinking on your feet, and having to MacGyver things,” said Rut. “Doing this build in front of people will add another dimension. It’s going to be a tightrope act.”
Rut and his crew will rely on eBay Parts and Accessories to find the components they need to build the car. “You can’t think of a place other than eBay Parts and Accessories where you can find literally every single thing you need to build a car from the ground up,” he said. “Just because we’re doing it on a stage and with a microphone doesn’t mean that a build like this is not attainable for an everyday guy that wrenches on his car on the weekends.”
