Master Plan – The World and Work of Pat Matthews | MBCA

Richard Simonds and Stephan McKeown

A remarkable structure designed and built by a classic Mercedes-Benz enthusiast to restore, maintain and display the automobiles he loves.

Master Plan – The world and work of Pat Matthews

Article: Richard Simonds & Stephan Mckeown
Images: Richard Simonds, Gary Anderson, Dennis Harrigan

Tucked far back into the soft golden hills of Sonoma County in Northern California lies a hidden landscape sheltering a remarkable structure designed and built by a classic Mercedes-Benz enthusiast to restore, maintain and display the automobiles he loves.

A deceptively simple, yet sophisticated architectural statement in concrete, wood and steel, the large earth-toned building is anchored directly into the hillside, blending harmoniously with the surrounding slopes covered in oak and pine. From the whimsical sculptures sited carefully throughout the tranquil natural surroundings to the structure’s welcoming balcony and elegant tower, this is clearly an environment conceived with great aesthetic care.

A graceful contemporary residence and separate storage facility complete the secluded compound. Here, every detail is thoughtfully designed to foster both contemplation and a profound sense of commitment to excellence in all things, a deeply held sensibility that perfectly reflects the values of the dedicated individual who designed this spot as the ideal retreat to pursue his chosen passion.

Birth of an enthusiast

Just as it did for most boys growing up in California in the 1950s and ’60s, car culture – a passion for cars and the freedom they represented – played a big role in Patrick “Pat” Matthews’s life. Getting a driver’s license was an exciting attainment and satisfying rite of passage.

Even now, Pat distinctly remembers the day his father brought home a certain new family car – a used Mercedes-Benz. Young Pat examined the strange vehicle closely and came away impressed with the car’s quality, little suspecting that a life-long fascination had been born.

The connoisseur

Many years later and now retired, Pat has over the years assembled a wonderful group of vehicles – he does not call it a “collection” – most of which carry the three-pointed star. Pat’s criteria are very clear: He selects cars that appeal to him, that can be driven, and those exemplifying the quality, handling, safety, reliability, durability and enjoyment that are so characteristic of Mercedes-Benz. Through the years, Pat has owned about 300 cars; he keeps very few that are not Mercedes-Benz vehicles because other brands – even the most exotic of luxury models – just don’t offer the consistent quality and drivability that he gets from his classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Pat sums up his automotive philosophy in simple terms: “I started with the best years ago and nothing else measures up.”

Of the hundreds of vehicles he has owned during an automotive-obsessed lifetime, these days Pat usually has 12-14 perfectly refurbished and maintained machines on view in his display garage, perhaps 10 more waiting in inventory at a nearby annex, and two additional Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the process of being restored in the bright shop to be found on the building’s lower level. A GMC fire truck and Farmall Cub tractor – both from the 1950s and both with plenty of stories to tell – plus two contemporary cars for daily driving duties round out the current roster of the Pat Matthews wheeled menagerie.

Apprenticeship

To make money while attending Antioch College in Ohio, Pat would buy 20-year-old American cars that needed mechanical attention, repair them so they could be driven safely and reliably, and then sell them to fellow students. He soon branched out; buying, fixing and selling Volvos. As a result, Pat had a good working knowledge of repairing both domestic and imported cars by the time he finished college and joined the professional world.

Around 1974, Pat bought a 1963 Mercedes-Benz 190c Finback sedan, repaired it as a dependable family vehicle, and thereby reacquainted himself with the storied brand that had so impressed him as a teen. Then, some time around 1984, he purchased a 190SL, but found that he didn’t enjoy driving the little car. The 190SL was sold and replaced with an neglected 220SE Cabriolet. Pat rebuilt the 220SE and added it to his growing family of cherished machines. From that humble beginning, Pat has subsequently acquired a group of what he considers to be the most significant models produced by Mercedes-Benz since 1950.

The Matthews method

Pat does almost all of the mechanical work on his cars while entrusting the highly specialized tasks of painting, upholstering, plating and woodwork refinishing to carefully selected experts who have the tools, resources and proven experience to do the job correctly.

Pat explained that he doesn’t just hunt out cars – although he does have a mental checklist of vehicles that are interesting to him – but is always open-minded about automobiles that come to him via referrals, club friends or any other route. Pat knows that some cars are “just wrong” for him, though he wryly admits that he doesn’t always discover that until after the vehicle has become his. For example, Pat once bought a lovely Mercedes-Benz 600 SWB Limousine that he sold after about a year. As his garage shows, Pat loves the 1950 and 1960s’ 300-series cars and found that his M100 300SEL 6.3 suited him perfectly, even though the same engine combined with the 600 SWB chassis produced a vehicle that, while beautiful, simply “… just didn’t feel right for me.”

Workspace workarounds

As he began to acquire more vehicles, Pat rented a succession of commercial buildings and garages – once, even a barn – where he would set up tools and equipment, and work as best he could in the often-cramped spaces on project vehicles while tending to his growing range of restored cars. But for one reason or another, the workspaces were never quite suitable. Pat once came across a family home complete with a 3-car garage and an 8-car garage annex. The premises seemed to offer a reasonable amount of room for his expanding inventory of restoration equipment and tools, but not enough room to maneuver one of his finished vehicles around without the risk of damage.
Pat knew there had to be a better way to work, and began mentally sketching versions of an ideal shop, imagining a home where he would have enough land to design and build a comfortable family dwelling along with the perfect garage and shop.

Home of a craftsman

As retirement approached, Pat finally found the perfect location to build his dream garage – on a hilltop in a remote rural corner of Northern California’s Sonoma County. He picked out a sloping site with magnificent views and – paying careful attention that his design and material choices were in harmony with the natural surroundings – created the unique 3500-square-foot display garage seen on these pages. A light-filled workshop of the same size was built into the hillside beneath the display floor.

The bright and spacious shop has two powerful car lifts, a fully enclosed and equipped machine shop, separate office and reference library, large-capacity air compressor, industrial dynamometer, extensive parts room and enough specialized tools and cherished vintage diagnostic equipment to put many automotive repair businesses to shame. Pat then built a nearby 3,000-square-foot annex garage to house overflow vehicles.

As well as being a stunning exhibition space designed to showcase a dozen or so selected vehicles – and perhaps a few motorcycles – Pat created the beautiful display space in part to offer a place for local charity events as well as driving destination for the many car clubs active in Northern California. Pat and his charming wife Patti are always generous with their time, regularly hosting groups of enthusiasts to view Pat’s vehicles. He is currently president of the Northern California chapter of the Gull Wing Group International – he recently stepped down as the club’s national president – and is a member of MBCA San Francisco Bay Area Section.

As well as his car club commitments, Pat tends a large garden that produces food for his family and friends; is part of the local volunteer fire department; is active with his two children and two grandchildren; and cares for his 93-year-old parents who live in a retirement village about an hour away.

Clearly, Pat and his wife Patti lead very active lives, begging the question: How has he managed to accomplish all of this, even while he was working full time? The answer is multifaceted: Automotive restoration is a hobby that Pat enjoys deeply – it was always a respite from his day job. He is a gifted craftsman of the highest order and his wife Patti has always been very supportive of his passion. Pat can spend a year – or five – on a single car, but he doesn’t characterize himself as patient. “I am not patient – just ask Patti – but I am disciplined.” He loves the challenge of restoration, but is very efficient, keeping detailed notes, drawings and photos of all his project cars so that he always knows exactly where he is in the process.

Seeking perfection

As Pat says, “I don’t work to restore a car to perfection because I like to drive and enjoy my cars and share them with others. Everything that I touch has to be perfect, but I don’t have to touch everything.”

Pat’s painstaking preparation and restoration process can take many months, but he is confident that when he does finish, the work is done correctly. As a result, Pat has no qualms about driving a restored car on cross-country tours, and in fact has put 7,000 miles on a vehicle on a single trip. Pat’s attention to authenticity and detail has resulted in numerous best-in-show and best-in-class awards at concours d’elegance and car shows over the years. Such accomplishments are a testament both to the superb design and engineering of Mercedes-Benz vehicles and to the quality of his restoration. Much like Gottlieb Daimler, Pat believes in “The best or nothing.”

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