STUDENT REDESIGNS OLD CARS AS HOBBY

By: Brittney Steele

Katelyn Mathias, a Fresno State psychology student, has a new interest in old cars. 

“My dad has a ‘29 Model A, and it’s been sitting there since I was a kid. And I’m on the road a lot with my dog and I wanted a big vehicle that we could travel and stay in and I started looking at vans in the area,” Mathias said. 

Mathias bought her first van, a ‘94 Chevy, and redesigned it. She gutted the inside, insulated and paneled the walls, and custom-built a bed and storage places. “Half the fun is making it whatever you want it to be,” Mathias said. 

All of the engine and mechanic work was done by AllTech Auto. The mechanics allowed Mathias to come in, learn, and be a part of the work.

That van was sold for $6,000, and she wanted to do it again. It took her three tries and hundreds of miles to find her next project and she’s already begun redesigning it. When complete, this van may be sold, too. 

Mathias is very proud of how much she’s learned about cars in seven months. “It’s crazy to see how far I’ve come. I went from knowing nothing to having a general understanding of how cars work and what parts are and how they run,” Mathias said.

Mathias currently has five jobs to pay for her hobbies and college expenses. Most of her income comes from her online store, Depop. She’s not letting her busy schedule stop her from doing what she loves with her “main dude,” Levi the dog.