K.C. Mathieu Preps Paint Job for eBay Motors ’67 Mustang Fastback
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Designing a paint scheme for a high-end resto-mod like the eBay Motors 1967 Mustang Fastback could be a daunting task. Fortunately, the “On The Road” team led by Rutledge Wood includes K.C. Mathieu, who has a lifetime of experience in the auto refinishing business—and years of know-how including a grueling three-year stint under the lights of the Discovery Channel’s Fast ’N Loud. “We did so many cars on the show,” said K.C. “Before I left, we finished somewhere around 60 cars. Most people don't get to work on as many cars in a lifetime let alone in three-and-a-half years.” (Learn about the eBay Motors Mustang and “On The Road with eBay Motors - opens in new window or tab.” tour.)
K.C. Mathieu
K.C. grew up around his father’s body shop in Crowley, Tex. He painted his first car when he was just 12 years old. “After school, the bus would drop me off at my dad’s shop,” he told eBay Motors. “From the time I can remember, I was at the shop every day.” He started with painting bicycles before progressing to dirt bikes and go-karts. “I would take apart my bike and spray it a different color,” K.C. said. “It looked like I was stealing bikes because my bike would be a different color every week.”
K.C. has always been a truck guy and still owns his first pickup, a 1968 Ford that he bought when he was 15 years old. The truck was broadsided while parked a few years ago and was subsequently rebuilt on Episode 12 of Fast ’N Loud. He vowed never to sell the pickup, which his friends dubbed “Frankenstein.”
What Color is Rowdy?
When K.C. was growing up in Texas, the rage was Fox-body Mustangs—the platform for third-generation models built between 1979 and 1993. “The Fox Mustang was the car that I always wanted in school,” K.C. said. “It was one of the fastest cars you could own at the time.”
As he became older, the third-generation model lost its allure—and was replaced by the earliest Mustang models. “I really like baby Mustangs, the 1964-and-a-half, 1965, and 1966,” he said. “I like speed. It’s a small car, and you can put a lot of motor in it and have a good time.”
The sheet metal is in place for the eBay Motors Mustang Fastback, and most of the mechanical bits have been addressed. From this view, you can see the new fuel tank, dual Magnaflow exhaust, and rear suspension mods. One of the next big questions is about paint colors.
The team is getting closer to finishing the mechanicals and body work on the eBay Mustang Fastback, described by Rutledge Wood as “red, white, and rowdy.” So now the key is how to interpret “rowdy” into the right color scheme.
Responsibility for coming up with the right treatment rests with K.C. The car’s wheel and tire combo will be revealed at this weekend’s Woodward Dream Cruise on Aug. 19. The Mustang will still be in primer, but Mike Finnegan, of Roadkill and Finnegan’s Garage, will be there all day to answer questions and, if we’re lucky, provide hints about the paint job scheduled to begin later this month. The full prime will take place in September, with the application of colors expected by early October.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.