Matt Wilson

I’m Josh’s crazy neighbor and the newest addition to the team. I went to school for Industrial Design only after getting into air-cooled VW’s; only later did I find out I went to school with most of these guys. I have been wrenching on these cars for over 10 years and have owned 13 different VW’s, both air and water-cooled. I am currently restoring a 1972 Beetle, which was my first car and was my daily driver until a couple of years ago.

A few years back, I cut the framehead off the car and welded on a new one. I replaced the front axle beam, tie rods, ball joints, steering box, damper, shocks, spindles, and converted to disc brakes in the front. I made sure every bolt and nut on the car was secure and the proper thread and location. This past summer I finished the outside of the car. Replaced all the fenders, hood, decklid, light housings etc. Even had to steal it back from an evil bodyshop. I reworked all the welding and bodywork, had it expertly painted BC/CC and assembled. Electrical and mechanical is sound, so now it’s time to finish the inside and get this baby back on the road!

I am a behind the scenes guy and truly a jack-of-all-trades, having held over 25 different jobs over the last 15 years – yes I helped set up for a DMX concert, sure I worked for a carnival, of course I worked in orthodontics, yeah I am a posterior model; made mannequins – absolutely. For over a year I worked for company that offered custom fabrication for sports cars. We built custom chro-moly roll cages, stainless steel exhaust, as well as composite molding and general assembly and fabrication for Supras, Mazdas and Porsches.

I currently work in Research and Development for American Recreation Products. I do some SolidWorks 3D CAD modeling, fabrication, sewing, materials testing, etc.

Also, coming up on 10 years of marriage. When I am not working, 3D modeling, or working on these cars I make beer, play the drums, camp, travel, and hang out with my dogs and cats. Here’s my wife and I driving a dune buggy in Mexico.

I am also known to eat most anything, and lots of it.

(I think this is how I was when Josh first met me…)