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FOREWORD

by Chris Beebe

A renowned sports car designer, driver, and mechanic, Chris Beebe owned and operated Foreign Car Specialists in Madison, Wisconsin, from 1969 until 2014. His shop was well known for repairing unusual vehicles and employing a colorful cast of talented engineers and mechanics. His pioneering work in developing cutting-edge high-fuel-economy vehicles is less well known.

Chris and his pal Peter Egan are celebrated for their contributions to numerous Road & Track feature stories. His legendary racing exploits in his custom-built Lotus Super 7, Can-Am Lola T163, Lotus Elise, and other vehicles include numerous outright wins and lap records. Chris continues to work actively on an eclectic variety of interesting vehicles.

He lives in rural southern Wisconsin with his wife and two children.

As youngsters, my friends and I were interested in the automobile, not simply as a mechanism of transport. I was struck with the workings, styles, and use of them all. Before cars I had found dilapidated bicycles and scooters, those leg-pushed rigs that allowed the magic of the wheel to come into play for a young otherwise immobile person, and I became mobile. I always enjoyed the conveyance of most anything that glided with the assistance of well-lubricated wheels, castor angled, straight axle, or non-steering, it didn’t matter much, I worked with whatever it offered.

Whether the vehicle was pushed, leaned on, or propelled by an outside source, it mattered how well it worked. Along with this essential spin-off came the wish for its appearance to (at least) match its operation, and sometimes its appearance excelled. Style, color, color scheme, and condition seemed to me to have a bearing over the simplest results, and it possibly mattered to the envious eyes that fell upon it. It is likely an onlooker could see preparation exceeding that of necessity and buckle under the knowledge that he could have done more or spent more effort on his own equipment. I was the quickest kid on the block on my scruffy trike, and when it got a snappy paint job (from a discarded tin of paint) it became so good looking that no one would even race me. This sort of cosmetic antic carried on through the years of my road-racing sports cars; the preparation and presentation seemed to matter to the competition.

Matt has more than a knack for making things appear to have been correctly repaired, designed, or fabricated. He has studied, understood, and applied the necessary and detailed knowledge of the process required to all his projects. Some of the processes he follows might seem painstakingly slow or labor-intensive to many of those wishing to repair or restore vehicles, tools, equipment, or whatever the project, but the fine results speak for themselves. He is continually reading and learning about the latest changes in product makeup, knows the dos and don’ts, how-tos, and what to watch for with filling materials, primers, prep products and the final coat of paint with its sealers. He has applied himself to knowing how to work with most common glass-fiber, steel, and aluminum panels, and will expound on others if asked.

We’ve known each other for decades; through the 40-some years of my owning and running Foreign Car Specialists, my repair shop in Madison, Wisconsin; through the years of his talk radio program, “All About Cars” (broadcast on WPR); and thereafter. I’ve leaned on Matt for his best thoughts and views because he makes a good sounding board or offers answers to whatever the question or difficulties I might face.

After exhausting all other means, I rely on Matt for a stable, well-thought-out answer to almost any question. This publication, if read, understood, and followed, will carry one through the process whatever the project, and leave a satisfying result, but for the sensitive (and personal) choice of color, that is.

This latest publication from Matt is another must-read for those interested in working on the metals of automotive bodies or chassis.