SAAC Forum

The Cars => 1965 GT350/R-Model => Topic started by: wcampbell on March 15, 2019, 02:20:38 PM

Title: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: wcampbell on March 15, 2019, 02:20:38 PM
All,

Last weekend I had the pleasure of showing 5S262 at the Amelia Island Concours and ultimately placed as a class winner. While the show was on my bucket list to attend I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd be there as an entrant let alone get an award. I have to say I owe a lot of it to many of you fine folks schooling me on the details of the car(s) over the years. Any way while I was there I had a young guy come up to me and say he really enjoyed reading the placard in front of the car and couldn't help but notice I mentioned the car was sold in 1965 from Gene Hamon Ford. He went on to say that he knew Tomy Hamon personally and would it be okay to photograph and then send Tomy a pic. I said "absolutely" and he went on his way. Now three days later I get home with the car and I notice a FB message from Tomy on my phone. Congratulating me on the award and how he'd like to some day see it in person. As a passing comment I wrote back "yeah I looked for along time for photos and even a dealership license frame for the restored car, but could never come up with anything." He replied, "I vaguely remembered it and of course, the Freddie Van Buren R model that we had - let me look through the boxes I have left from back in the day in the basement and I'll see what comes up". The next day I headed to work and when I walked out 8 hours later to head home I saw a message from Tomy again expressing this: "We had just built the new dealership building back in 1965 so dad had some photos taken of it and I came across this one to my surprise - look at what's sitting in the front row (5S262) and in the show room (COBRA)!" Such a cool connection and a pic that had been elusive for years...just thought I'd share...and now to find which COBRA that was!

Wayne
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: Shelby_r_b on March 15, 2019, 03:08:41 PM
Man, there's SO much awesomeness in this post. Many thanks for sharing!

Truly, it's the people you meet that make this passion and experience so special...on top of winning! Wow!

Congrats to you! 👍🏻
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: Side-Oilers on March 15, 2019, 03:24:45 PM
That is super cool. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: CharlesTurner on March 15, 2019, 04:07:53 PM
Wow, very cool!

The R model was probably 5R108
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: Rickmustang on March 15, 2019, 04:21:51 PM
Wish I had a pic like that of 5S131 at the dealer. Congrats! Very Cool. Rick
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: FL SAAC on March 15, 2019, 04:22:06 PM
first congratulations on the win and congratulations on the pictures
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: Chad on March 15, 2019, 04:57:16 PM
That is so cool!!!  I bet you some guys on this forum will come up with what number cobra that is!
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: J_Speegle on March 15, 2019, 05:50:43 PM
What are the chances.  Wow.

Karma was on your side - congrads on finding such a great picture. Apparently it was meant to be.

If only owner could be as lucky
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: Bob Gaines on March 15, 2019, 07:18:06 PM
Congrats on the win at the show and also thanks for sharing that great story . That is some luck on the contact and picture more then 50 years after the fact. Quick go buy a powerball. You never know when you might be on a roll. ;D
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: gjz30075 on March 15, 2019, 07:32:49 PM
That's fantastic, and Karma for sure!     You can now add more detail to the Placard.  A great story.
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: TJinSA on March 15, 2019, 09:25:29 PM
QUICK! Go buy some Lottery tickets!!!  You're living every man's dream!
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: 69mach351w on March 15, 2019, 09:42:19 PM
Now this is the kind of stuff I enjoy seeing and reading about.   I love the vintage car dealer photos. And top it off, it's your Shelby!!

CONGRATS!!!
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: Don Johnston on March 15, 2019, 10:07:50 PM
And the Cobra on the showroom flow number is?
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: 68GT350roadracer on March 18, 2019, 08:22:06 AM
Cool story congratulations.
Title: Re: The road to Amelia leads you back to Texas (in 1965)...
Post by: ramrace on March 18, 2019, 12:01:12 PM
Good things happen to good people.