This just in...
https://youtu.be/4ZfRtaCERnU
Very nicely done. Thanks for sharing
That was fantastic! Thank you for sharing.
Corey
Great presentation by Mr McIntyre, thanks for posting
I had known Tom's dad had been involved but I had always thought more than he actually was. Tom is a great guy I see him once or twice a year and he always remembers everybody's name and wonders about their current projects and cars. I remember when he said he had Mickey Thompson Mystery Motor Vette. The Corvette guys at Monterey were calling him all sorts of names and that he was full of BS because his car didn't have any visible numbers. They said they knew where all the hidden numbers were and they'd be happy to prove to him it wasn't the car. They came over and left in awe. Yep right car #3 Z06 and on the most wanted list. The article downplays the arrogance of the Vette guys and the tension in the pit until they found the numbers. https://www.motortrend.com/news/mickey-thompson-z06-mystery-motor-stingray/
Tom did a few of these emblems for Rick Titus when he was going to build a series of 4, 1967 TransAm street car replicas. One for each race his dad won. He got so much flack from people thinking his air conditioned A or C code street cars with the yellow/black paint scheme were to be passed off as originals he scrapped the whole idea after building his own car.
(https://i.imgur.com/XaIz3GVl.jpg)
COCOA also had a member Sam Johnson whose dad had done the stripes for Shelby. He made a run of the 65 GT350 letters on the original dies in the late 70s. I still have a set. He also had bought a 427 Cobra with money he earned selling stuff to SA & Ford.
Wow, now that is some cool stuff. Thanks for sharing.
It is cool to know that even in this day and age new information can come to light. Great story too. Kid designs parts for SA, kid sells parts to SA, kid buys 427 Cobra from SA with the money he makes from selling parts to SA. Love it!
That was great!
One word.
WOW
I was standing with Tom during the 1988 Smoky Yunick auction when he was bidding on the matching number mystery motor to the Vet. Our picture was in Autoweek the following month. GM and Reggie Jackson both were bidding on it also. When the bidding got to around $20,000 I said I could loan him $7,000 if he needed it but he opened his breafcase where he had about $50,000. Paid $29,000 if I remember correctly.
Roy
Quote from: TA Coupe on March 01, 2022, 09:34:07 PM
I was standing with Tom during the 1988 Smoky Yunick auction when he was bidding on the matching number mystery motor to the Vet. Our picture was in Autoweek the following month. GM and Reggie Jackson both were bidding on it also. When the bidding got to around $20,000 I said I could loan him $7,000 if he needed it but he opened his breafcase where he had about $50,000. Paid $29,000 if I remember correctly.
Roy
I've never known Tom to go anywhere unprepared.
Interesting tidbit I heard (from a reliable source) about that day at Smokey's auction:
The GM guys had reached their bid limit that GM corporate had given them (I think $25k) and asked if they could take a time out to arrange for more $$. The auction was leaning toward granting the request, until Tom made a very convincing argument that the auction rules stated there were no time outs for such things. Money must be in the room...or something like that.
After a few sweaty moments for all involved, the auction agreed with Tom, and he won the bid.
I do not know why Reggie Jackson didn't bid more. He was tight with Chevrolet.
Great video and thanks for posting, Van!
Quote from: Side-Oilers on March 01, 2022, 10:56:58 PMI do not know why Reggie Jackson didn't bid more. He was tight with Chevrolet.
He maybe didn't want to step on any toes. If he backed the GM guys with some extra cash there was no assurance he'd get it back. Out bidding Tom may have put him on GM's no more goodies list since he took something they really wanted.
^^^ Sounds plausible. Reggie was definitely on the free goodies list.
A couple more Youtube videos of Tom. These are showing off his car collection. Some stories match up to your comments above.
Video 1 - https://youtu.be/82g4NuwzHC8 (https://youtu.be/82g4NuwzHC8)
Video 2 - https://youtu.be/x8Jh5QI8N_8 (https://youtu.be/x8Jh5QI8N_8)
Videos by Petersen Automotive Museum.
I have told this story many times and I will tell one more time because the timing is appropriate. In the mid 1970s there was a track event at Ontario motor speedway and was invited to go along. Tom MC and Lynn P were discussing the open track event like who was going in whos car. Tom asked me if I wanted to go for a putt! I said sure and asked my Dad if I could go and got the green light. Little did my Dad know it was an open track event and Tom loves to stand on the gas. I sat in that Silver COBRA so many decades ago which lit my interest in all thing SHELBY! As I slid in I realized there is not much room except for 2 people and thats all. He had a huge telephoto lens attached to a camera sitting on the passenger seat and said here hold it and dont let it get away from you. I figured sure no big deal and tightened the belts, as we entered the track he stood on it and the car was completely sideways and his camera almost exited the car, I thought HOLY SHIT I almost lost his camera and he just said dont let it get away from you! The sound of those side pipes emanating from that 427- bouncing off the wall and the blur of passing cars like they were tied to a tree stump was automotive nirvana. I asked how fast were we going when we got back and he said probably 160-170 ish and my dad turned green :-[ Thanks for the memories Tom that was one of those moments that would last a life time!!! ;)
Quote from: 427heaven on March 02, 2022, 12:20:50 PM
I have told this story many times and I will tell one more time because the timing is appropriate. In the mid 1970s there was a track event at Ontario motor speedway and was invited to go along. Tom MC and Lynn P were discussing the open track event like who was going in whos car. Tom asked me if I wanted to go for a putt! I said sure and asked my Dad if I could go and got the green light. Little did my Dad know it was an open track event and Tom loves to stand on the gas. I sat in that Silver COBRA so many decades ago which lit my interest in all thing SHELBY! As I slid in I realized there is not much room except for 2 people and thats all. He had a huge telephoto lens attached to a camera sitting on the passenger seat and said here hold it and dont let it get away from you. I figured sure no big deal and tightened the belts, as we entered the track he stood on it and the car was completely sideways and his camera almost exited the car, I thought HOLY SHIT I almost lost his camera and he just said dont let it get away from you! The sound of those side pipes emanating from that 427- bouncing off the wall and the blur of passing cars like they were tied to a tree stump was automotive nirvana. I asked how fast were we going when we got back and he said probably 160-170 ish and my dad turned green :-[ Thanks for the memories Tom that was one of those moments that would last a life time!!! ;)
Bravo for your experience and bravo on his driving
Can't really find the words...
This is so Amazing and I'll reiterate what some has posted, what a superb Gentleman, like he said, "Being a product of the 60's as was the Cobra", and young Tom saved his money and bought his dream Cobra as he was actually producing name badges/plates for the very cars he Loved!!
As a Machinist by trade and a Tool & Die College graduate, I can "Totally" relate to Tom and his love for his business. A person does have a Great feeling when you produce things you can actually touch on vehicles of the period. I didn't produce vehicle parts, but did make Submarine parts and Carrier parts that I actually got to see, feel and see function in person.
The Video is one of the best I've seen lately about a Man and his Dream of owning a Cobra and producing parts for that Cobra 8)
Great stuff, nice guy!
Wait until Anthony see's this!!
Hi to everyone that reads and comments here....
This is really really AMAZING!!.We are so lucky to have people like this still here with good memories of how much fun the 1960's stuff was and still is for many of us.
Many THANKS for sharing/posting.
Regards R.R. AKA Anthony J.D. I will call you soon...
great video great information
Thanks for posting