The Mustang’s luscious blue BASF Onyx metal-flake paint sparkled in the Nevada sun.
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.
The design for the “red, white, and rowdy” Mustang started with a quick sketch on a napkin penned by TV personality and racing analyst Rutledge Wood. The stunning visual approach and powerful powertrain were based on input from his crew, which including automotive artist K.C. Mathieu formerly of Fast and Loud, and Mike Finnegan, as seen on Roadkill and Finnegan’s Garage on YouTube.
Rutledge Wood met countless fans who admired the eBay Motors 1967 Fastback.
SEMA marked the first time since the beginning of the project that the entire crew—including Randy Allgood of Kenwood Rod Shop—appeared together with the car at an event. “From the beginning, we wanted something that would immediately bring a smile to kids’ faces,” said Rut. “We did it. We built a real-life Hot Wheels, a rally-inspired go-anywhere do-anything 1967 Fastback.”
SEMA show-goers were captivated by the Mustang’s massive 535-horsepower Ford Performance 427 Cubic Inch crate engine, with its porcupine-like six-inch Borla Polished Aluminum injector stacks topping the Inglese EZ-EFI 2.0 Induction System. The Mustang stood loud and proud on its raised suspension, the wheel wells filled with American Racing custom 18”x8” VN526 Wheels wrapped with 255/60R18 General Grabber AT2 tires.
Mike Finnegan enjoyed a moment behind the wheel of the finished Mustang.
With the entire crew present and the Mustang’s luscious blue BASF Onyx metal-flake paint sparkling in the sun, the gavel on the eBay charity auction of the car fell just after 1:00 pm on Thursday. The winning bid was placed live at eBay Motors outdoor SEMA display—with the winner landing the Fastback for $55,000.
> Get the full background and see all our posts about the ’67 Mustang and the “On The Road with eBay Motors” tour
The Timeline
Here’s a rundown of the five-month journey from the car’s purchase to its completion.
May: The Car Is Acquired
“We tore it apart, pulled the fenders off, and took a close look at the frame,” said Rut. “The bones are good.”
After purchasing the Mustang on eBay, it was hauled to Kenwood Rod Shop near Atlanta where much of the restoration work took place. “This car has some truly good lines,” said Rut. “The biggest thing for a custom build is making sure that the lines in the car are aligned and true.”
June 2-4: Carlisle Ford Nationals in Carlisle, Penn.
Race Ramps gave the crowd in Carlisle a chance to see early work on the Mustang.
Rutledge Wood and the crew arrived in Carlisle, Penn. in early June for the first stop of the tour. The crowd was buzzing when the ’67 Mustang Fastback rolled off its hauler and into the show’s big top. “The first thing we did was strip the car,” said Rut. “We soda-blasted it and put one solid coat of primer on it to give everyone a solid vision of what it will become.”
Rut’s crew rebuilt the suspension using a Ridetech Street Grip kit, with adjustable MonoTube shocks all around. There were new composite leaf springs in back and new shock towers/inner fender aprons up front. The new shock towers are two inches lower than the original, which raises the front end of the car. A complete set of Delrin bushings and a front sway bar tighten things up.
July 7-9: Goodguys PPG Nationals, Columbus, Ohio
Mike Finnegan of Roadkill answered questions about the Mustang’s drivetrain.
The 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback arrived at the Goodguys 20th PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio sporting a beefy new engine and transmission. After much deliberation, Rut and his crew decided on the legendary 535-horsepower Ford Performance 427 Cubic Inch crate engine and a stout Tremec five-speed manual transmission.
When it arrived in Columbus, the Fastback was sporting a beefy new engine and transmission.
Putting a large engine into a Mustang, which has a small engine bay, took a bit of finesse. “It was pretty straightforward,” said Rut. “Of course, it took four or five times to test everything, make sure the motor mounts fit and get all the bolts installed.”
Aug 19: Woodward Dream Cruise, Detroit, Mich.
Randy Allgood fits the new wheels to the Fastback.
The Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit marked the third stop for the eBay Motors “On The Road” tour. The Mustang’s rear suspension was rigged up to show the tire-and-wheel fitment at Woodward. Rut and the team discussed the possible choice of classic racing alloys wrapped in General Grabber AT2 tires. It was an unconventional combination for a classic Mustang.
The choice provided a huge hint about the design direction. General Grabber AT2s are aggressive off-road tires with a five-row tread design to maximize traction in all conditions. General Tire’s motto is: “Anywhere is possible.” So it looked like the fastback was headed off the beaten path.
Aug 25-27: Goodguys West Coast Nationals, Pleasanton, Calif.
The first firing of the engine took place at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals.
The setting for the inaugural revving of the Mustang’s engine was the Goodguys 31st West Coast Nationals in Pleasanton, Calif., where the eBay Motors pop-up garage drew crowds of gearheads eager to see the fastback and hear it roar. “It was way cool to hear 530 horses gallop simultaneously underneath the hood,” said Rut, who was behind the wheel.
Oct 31 – Nov 3: SEMA, Las Vegas, Nev.
The final product, a work of automotive art.
Rut 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 SEMA. After five months of arduous work and unbridled creativity, the car was finished, fully polished, and headed to SEMA in Las Vegas.
The wraps were taken off the rebuilt classic Mustang on Oct. 31 at the Ford Out Front exhibit at SEMA. That’s where live bidding took place through Nov. 2, for the last three days of the charity auction.
A Great Cause
The auction of the 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback closed on Nov. 2 with a final bid of $55,000. One-hundred percent of proceeds benefited the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
“The coolest thing for me is the fact that eBay Motors led this whole project with their heart,” said Rut. “It was amazing to get the chance to build this, to do it for a great cause, and to meet the auction winner.” Mike Finnegan added, “Building stuff that matters and for a great cause, we couldn’t be happier to be a part of this project.”
